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HISTORY 



iitc fttiibreir antr fel^ts-lmtlj fcgiment 



NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 



BY 



Ret. WM. H. ROGERS, A.M., 

CHAPLAIN. 



JOHN A. GRAY & GREEN, PRINTERS, COR. JACOB AND FRANKFORT STS. 
1865. 



///?f^ 



E6'Z3 
■6' 



TO THE SOLDIERS 

OF THB 

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-NINTH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS, 

AND THEIR JTRIENDS, 
THIS RECORD OF OUR COMMON EXPERIENCES 



^Iffccttonatdg Insrrilijli 

Bt the Author. 



PKEFAOE 



Only the outline history of a single regiment is here giv- 
en. I have not attempted any account of the philosophical 
connection and design of the general movements in which 
my regiment participated, except such as was purely inci- 
dental. I have aimed to gratify their request to give them a 
souvenir of our experiences during our term of service. The 
plan that seemed best adapted to this, and to the expense 
and limits prescribed for the book, was to select and narrate 
such a suggestive sei-ies of events as would cluster, and thus 
by association revive all the memories of the year. It is 
hoped any member of the command will find each historical 
sentence a text from which he may entertain his children 
and grand-children with stories of his soldier-deeds and suf- 
ferings which otherwise might have faUen into oblivion. 

WILLIAM H. ROGERS. 

Wellstille, N. y., August 15, 1S65. 



PART FIRST. 



ORGAIs^IZATIOI^ OF THE REGIME^ifT. 

The One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth Regiment of 
New- York Volunteers was organized of good mate- 
rials. That portion of Central New-York whence they 
were raised contributed freely during the war to the 
Federal forces ; but the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth, 
though among the last, was one of her choicest offer- 
ino-s. For more than three years had the Union, our 
mfghty ship of state, contended with the dark storm 
of Rebellion's warring elements surging to heaven from 
Treason's lowest depths. The true of all lands with 
prayer and anxious trust, knowing that the ship was 
freighted with the world's best hopes, beheld its compe- 
tenr pilot, Abraham Lincoln, always master of the sit- 
uation, making successfully the harbor in which it was 
to be securely placed. So many of his men were lost 
amid the furv of the waves during the unparalle ed 
tempest of the early months of 1864, that he called 
ao-ain for more help, and with undiminished patriotism 
the people responded to their country's caU. Among 
them marched the gallant One Hundred and Eighty- 
Ninth, of whose Field and Staff and Company organiza- 
tion the following is the description : 



8 180TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 

Colonel William VV. Hayt was born in Ithaca, Tomp- 
kins County, K. Y., January ninth, 1824, where he lived 
with his parents till he was nine years of age. At that 
time his father removed with his family to Corning, 
Steuben County, K. Y., and gave the subject of thts 
sketch a good education, which so well jDrepared him for 
his illustrious course of life. A successful merchant in 
Corning for several years, in 1860 he went to Albany 
and engaged in the lumber trade. Having been for a 
long time the efficient Adjutant of the Sixtieth Regi- 
ment New-York State Militia, and afterward its Ma- 
jor, he was designated by his eminent military abihties, 
when the slaveholders made their first traitorous as- 
sault upon the Government, as one whose quahfications 
ranked him among its best friends and supporters. Ac- 
cordingly, leaving Albany, he at once went to the 
field with the Twenty-third Regiment N^ew-York Vo- 
lunteers, as its Adjutant under Colonel Hoffman, the 
old Colonel of the Sixtieth. He served faithfully and 
heroically with this command, during its active services 
for two years, when its time expiring, it was discharged. 
Immediately accei3ting the appointment as Assistant 
Provost-Marshal at Elmira, under Captain Harmons, 
he labored untiringly in that position till the spring of 
1864, when he succeeded Captain Harmons as Pro- 
vost-Marshal. His patriotic self-sacrificing devotion to 
the heavy business which crowded his office for several 
months, as the final quotas of recruits were hurrying 
forward to the seat of war, overtaxed his constitutioi^ 
and no doubt sowed those seeds of death which caused 
to set so prematurely his sun of life in its full-orbed 
lustre. Attracted by his kind and gentlemanly charac- 
ter, as the duties of his office brought the new recruits 



189th NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 9 

in contact with him, the gallant soldiers of the One 
Hundred and Eighty-Ninth received with profound sa- 
tisfaction the announcement that he was unanimously 
elected their Colonel, and had promised to accept. Nor 
did their ardent attachment for him diminish while he 
was leading them to the field, drilling them, and placing 
them in comfortable quarters before Petersburgh, near 
Warren's Station, as a part of the body of the Poto- 
mac Army. Thence going on the fifth of November 
to City Point on business, he was attacked next day 
with severe illness and died, November eighth, 1864, of 
congestion of the brain, aged forty years. A record of 
the official procedure of his afflicted regiment, on the 
occasion of his death, is reserved for its place in a sub- 
sequent page of this volume. 

Colonel, the soldier's friend ! of soul sincere, 

In action faithful, and in honor clear; 

"Who broke no promise, served no private end, 

Who sought no title, and who lost no friend ; 

Ennobled by himself, by all approved. 

Praised, wept, and honored by the land he loved. 

Colonel Allen L. Burr was born in Camden, Alle- 
gany County, N. Y., December twelfth, 1821. His fii- 
ther. Major Allanson Burr, as he was universally called, 
kept a hotel for nearly thirty-five years in the place 
which bears his name in that town. He moved into 
the town in 1810, when the only inhabitants were In- 
dians. Allen's education was limited, as he attended 
only district-school, in a log building, one and a half 
miles distant. Brought up in a hotel, he had no laste 
for learning, and ceased attending school altogether at 
fourteen years of age. He drove- stage from Camden 



10 189th new-yoek volunteers. 

to Pike till he was eighteen years of age, when he mar- 
ried a daughter of Samuel Webber. Both were very 
poor. His first business after marriage was staging. 
By industry, in two years he had accumulated sufficient 
means to erect a small house and store in the place of 
his birth. Fortune smiled upon his mercantile efforts, 
and he did well for about a year, when, on the sixteenth 
of May, 1842, his store took fire, and all he had was 
consumed. Left penniless, with a wife, son, and daugh- 
ter, owing about seven hundred dollars, he, with good 
health, went to work at four shillings per day, as that 
was the best he could do at the time. In January, 
1843, he procured a clerkship in New- York with Wil- 
liam H. Livingston, at $200 per year besides board. 
Although his wages were soon raised, he only staid 
with his employer till the following summer, when he 
moved to Buffalo and engaged in the grocery business 
on commission with a man by the name of W. S. Phil- 
pot, who owned a wholesale store on the dock. Octo- 
bar eighteenth, 1 844, witnessed the great blow on the 
lake, which raised the water to the depth of five feet in 
the store, and destroyed the concern. Driving a hack 
till the spring of 1845, he was induced by the sickness 
of his wife to leave the city. Having worked a hired 
farm in Bethany, Genesee Co., over a year, he moved 
back to Camden, as poor, at least, as when he left. He 
worked by the day until the spring of 1849, when his 
fortune changed. For the State was about to put a 
portion of the Genesee Valley Canal under contract, 
and as no law existed at that time against a poor man's 
bidding on the public works, he made a proposition for 
a section of bridges, which was accepted. He com- 
pleted this contract and a number of others, by which 



189TII NEW-YORK VOLUNTEEES. H 



lie made considerable money. Elected Justice of the 
Peace in 1848, he served with much satisfaction to his 
fellow-townsmen. In the spring of 1851, he purchased 
a farm near his native place, where his family now re- 
sides in a comfortable home. Here he occupied most 
of his time in the practice of law, politics, etc., until 
the spring of 1861, when the traitors commenced their 
pro-slavery war against this Government by firing on 
Fort Sumter. At that time happening to be in New- 
York, through his brother-in-law, Commissioner to the 
Sandwich Islands, he made the acquaintance of the la- 
mented Colonel Baker, with whom he made arrange- 
ments to raise a company for the first California Regi- 
ment, with the promise of its captaincy. He went 
home without delay, enlisted a portion of his company, 
and made arrangements for the rest, when he met with 
an accident by which he dislocated an ankle-joint, and 
was disabled from walking for nearly a year. Still he 
assisted in raising three companies. Under the call of 
1862 he raised a company, and joined the One Hundred 
and Sixtieth New- York Volunteers at Auburn, with the 
promise of the Lieutenant-Colonelcy. Notwithstanding 
Governor Morgan, in the interest of some favoritism, 
failed to fulfill his promise, still Captain Burr went for- 
ward with his company to Louisiana. He was in the 
battles of La Teche, taking the rebel gunboat Cotton, 
and Irish Bend or Camp Bisland. He not only had to 
endure the extreme Southern climate, which was very 
unf ivorable to his health, and the ordinary hardships 
of the soldier's lot, but the extreme unpleasantness of 
a Captain's duties when his regiment is officered by un- 
principled men. His constitution could not withstand 
all these drafts upon its power of endurance. Pros- 



12 3^9TII NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

trated by disease, he resigned his commission and came 
home. It was a long time ere he regained his health 
sufficiently to enter the service again, which he did as 
soon as possible by assisting in the organization of the 
One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New- York Volunteers, 
as Lieutenant-Colonel. By his love of our country, 
the only government fit to live in ; by his attachment 
to his family, two sons and four daughters ; and by the 
influence of his property worth protecting from the trai- 
tors, he has been inspired to faithfulness in his duties, 
in which he has served in all the different capacities 
of a soldier, from a private in the ranks to that of a Bri- 
gadier-General, with credit to himself and benefit to 
the Government. Plis youngest son, Fred, fourteen 
years of age, has been with him nearly all the time 
since he first entered the service. His oldest son, 
Charles, is physically disqualified for the performance 
of military labors. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph G. Townsend was born 
December seventeenth, 1842, in Hudson, Columbia 
County, N. Y. His parents gave him, their only sou, 
the best opportunities for early culture. Having en- 
joyed the benefits of primary education till he was four- 
teen years of age, he was at that time sent to the high- 
school, at Clinton, Oneida Co., IST. Y., under Professor 
XL P. Bristol and Rev. Benjamin D wight. These pri- 
vileges he shared till he was nineteen years of age. 
Then he spent some months at home, when he entered 
the service of the American Express Company at 
Rochester. Enlisting August fourteenth, 1862, in the 
United States service, he was appointed Second Lieu- 
tenant in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-first 



189i;n NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 13 

JSTew-York Volunteers, with rank from the eleventh of 
September, 1862. He was promoted and commis- 
sioned as Captain August twenty-ninth, 1863. lie was 
in the entire Suffolk and Penmsula campaigns, under 
General Dix, and a portion of the Gettysburgh. In 
the following September his regiment was transferred 
,to the First Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Corps, 
General Hooker, of the Army of the Cumberland, 
under General Thomas. In the memorable fights and 
camj^aigns of this army he served with heroic valor till 
November third, 1864, when he left Atlanta under a 
commission as Major of the One Hundred and Eighty- 
Ninth Regiment, New-York Volunteers, dating Octo- 
ber first, and joined his new command on the second of 
December. With this he continued till the end of the 
war ; nor did his military career grow dim amid the 
closing acts of the mighty struggle, as his record in 
the following pages will show. 

Major William H. Withey was born in Friendship, 
Allegany County, N. Y., March twenty-fifth, 1831. 
Attending school, when he had attained the proper 
age, and working on the farm until his sixteenth year, 
he then commenced working at the millwright trade. 
This he followed till he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he began attending school at Alfred University, 
w here he remained a number of terms. On the thirty- 
first December, 1858, he was married to Miss Amanda 
M. Bears, of Bolivar. Afterward, lumbermg and the 
mercantile business occupied his time till he volunteered, 
October twenty-second, 1861, for the war, and joined 
the Twenty-eighth New-York Volunteers, of General 
Banks's Division. With this command he took part in 



y 



1-1 189TII NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

driving out the rebel General Jackson from the She- 
nandoah Valley, and in the famous retreat from it. His 
noble Twenty Eighth had become so depleted by the 
fortunes of war that only four hundred men survived, 
w^ith whom, on the ninth of August, 1862, he went 
into the battle of Cedar Mountain, and w^as one of the 
one hundred and twenty-five survivors of the regiment 
at set of sun. Ten days after he was taken prisoner 
w^hile attending the w^ounded officers in the hospital 
at Culpeper, Virginia. Having been carried to Rich- 
mond on the tw^enty-fifth of September, he remained 
there in prison till the seventh of October, when he 
w^as paroled, and, with others, sent to Washington, 
where he was discharged. On the twenty-ninth of 
August, 18G4, he commenced raising a company of in- 
fantry, of which he was elected Captain, and on the 
twenty-seventh of September it w^as mustered into the 
service, at Elmira, as Company B, One Hundred and 
Eighty-Ninth New-York Volunteers. On being elected 
Major, the same generous uprightness characterized him 
as had won him the fullest confidence and love of his 
Company, and rendered him one of the most popular, 
true and useful officers of the regiment. 

Chaplain William H. Rogers, A.M.,* was born Octo- 
ber twenty-first, 1834, in Willing, Allegany County, 
N. Y., whither his parents had moved from the East, 
the previous spring. His father, an honest, industrious 
fiirmer, and his mother, a pious, faithful w^oman of great 
energy of character, gave him, with their other children, 
such training as working at home summers, and attend- 
ing common-schools winters, are adapted to impart. 
Converted at the age of fifteen, sensible from tliat 

*Tliis sketch was prepared hy a frienrl, and inserted by re<iuost. 



189th new-yoek volunteers. 15 

time of his call to the ministry of the Gospel, two years 
after, he commenced his course of study at Alfred Uni- 
versity, preparatory to his . life-work. In his twenty- 
fourth year he finished there the classical course in 
college, having from his seventeenth year taught every 
winter and otherwise labored to defray his current ex- 
penses, besides working meanwhile for his father from 
time to time. He cherishes especially for Rev. J. M. 
Allen, A.M., Professor of Psychology, Moral Science, 
and Hebrew, in his Alma Mater, profound and endur- 
ing gratitude for so judiciously disabusing his mind, 
while at college, of some ruinous materialistic errors 
which he had imbibed in boyhood. 

Having taught a large select-school in Spring Mills, 
Allegany County, N. Y., the winter of 1858, a flourish- 
ing institution of learning grew out of it, commencing, 
the following fall, with a new academic edifice. Of 
Spring Mills Academy he continued Principal nearly 
three years, whereupon he resigned in order to accept 
the principalship of Troupsburgh Academy, in Steu- 
ben Co., as successor to his brother Lowell, who was de- 
sirous of resigning. He was map'ied, July third, 1861, 
to Miss M. Elizabeth Brownell, daughter of Rev. Ve- 
ranus Bro\\mell, of the East-Genesee Conference, Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

The continued and increasing prosperity of the insti- 
tution under his administration, illustrated the strength 
of our popular institutions during the troublous times 
of the rebellion. Religion, scholarship, and loyalty 
flourished. Indeed, Chaplain Rogers deserves great 
credit for wise and loyal management, for though fierce- 
ly opposed by a cabal of copperheads officially connect- 
ed with the Seminary, he, without teaching partisan 



16 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

politics, taught practical loyalty as an ethical duty ; 
and though his political enemies descended even to 
fraud, calumny, and perjury in their hostility to him, 
and all true men and measures, the utter integrity, 
force, and usefulness of his character, labors, and poli- 
cies overwhelmed them and gained new laurels for him 
and his institution. Resigning here, he shortly after 
accepted the chaplaincy of the One Hundred and 
Eighty-Ninth, to which he was unanimously chosen. 
His commission dates October eighth, 1864. All his 
regiment loved him. He worked faithfully for them 
through the whole term of service. 

He has been a member of the East-Genesee Confer- 
ence, Methodist Episcopal Church, six years, and has 
preached to average once a week since his seventeenth 
year. 

Adjutant Eugene H. Roney was born in the town of 
Massena, St. Lawrence County, State of New- York, on 
the ninth day of January, 1838, and is the youngest of 
five sons, all of whom are still living. His parents were 
poor but respectable farmers. At the early age of five 
years, he was called upon to undergo one of the most 
sad and irreparable afflictions ever visited on childhood, 
the loss of an indulgent and afiectionate mother. Al- 
though twenty-two years have passed into oblivion 
since her pure spirit ascended to that better land, the 
memory of her love, her amiable disposition, and her 
Christian example still remain fresh and green in the 
archives of his inmost heart. Her hallowed image 
and angelic presence he hopes watch over him with the 
tenderest solicitude and affection. His early years were 
spent in the town of his nativity. Here, at the age of 



1S9TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEEliS. 17 

seven years, he first breathed the air of a district-school- 
house, but he contracted such disUke for his teacher as 
to render his attendance at school not only irksome but 
also of little profit. When he had reached his fifteenth 
year his father disposed of his farm m Massena, and 
with his family removed to the State of Connecticut, 
^nd located near the village of Thompsonville, in the 
town of Enfield. Assisting his father on the farm dur- 
ing vacations and other leisure days, he remained here 
and attended hicjh-school in the viUao-e three years. 
But agricultural pursuits had few attractions for him, 
and in the spring of 1855, his father procured him a 
clerkship with the firm of Case and Owen, merchants in 
the city of Hartford. Having remained here two years, 
his health failing, he was obliged to relinquish his 
situation and seek needed repose and recreation. The 
year following was spent with his eldest brother, a cler- 
gyman, now a member of the Massachusetts Legisla- 
ture, who resided at Lynn, Massachusetts. Here re- 
mained Eugene, enjoying the fresh sea-breezes and fre- 
quent trips on fishing expeditions, until he found his 
health completely restored. In the autumn of 1858, 
he went to Cleveland, Oswego Co., N. Y., (his pre- 
sent place of abode,) and commenced school-teaching, 
which occupation he continued to follow until the break- 
ing out of the rebellion in the spring of 1861. In com- 
pany with a few students from Hamilton College, he 
assisted in raising a company of volunteers for the war, 
and entered the First California Regiment, commanded 
by that patriot, statesman, and brave man, Colonel E. 
D. Baker, who fell a martyr at Ball's Bluft^ in October, 
1 862. He served with his regiment through all the Pe- 
ninsula Campaign, and was with it in every battle in 



18 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

which it was engaged. Ball's Bluff, West-Point, Fair 
Oaks or Seven Pines, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, 
White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill. Then came the 
long period of inactivity while the army remained at 
Harrison's Landing. Then the retreat to Newport 
ISTews, and transportation to Alexandria, where he ar- 
rived just in season to participate in the disastrous bat- 
tle of Second Manassas. Here his connection with the 
gallant First California Regiment ended, for he was 
taken from the battle-field to the hospital. He was ho- 
norably discharged the service the following February, 
on account of disease contracted in the Chickahominy 
Swamps. In August and September, 1864, in conjunc- 
tion with Captain Edward A. Marble, he assisted in rais- 
ing a company of volunteers for one year, and pro- 
ceeded to Elmira, the general rendezvous for Western 
New- York, where they were finally assigned to the 
One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth Regiment, New- York 
Volunteers, Colonel William W. Hayt, and left for the 
seat of war on the fifth day of October. 

Quaptermaster J. L. Brown was born a.d. 1832, in 
Corning, New-York. The straightforward course of 
this upright business man and noble ofiicer is easily deli- 
neated. Obtaining a liberal education, he worked at 
lumbering and farming successfully, until his country's 
call led him to record his name among those not afraid 
to die for her salvation. In his twenty-fourth year he 
was married to Miss Hat tie A. Hoag, of Norwich, 
Chenango Co., N. Y. Joining the One Hundred and 
Eighty-Ninth New- York Volunteers, he was chosen its 
Quartermaster, in which he distinguished himself as 
an honest, prompt, and able officer. 



189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 19 

On returning to his Northern home, "when the cruel 
war was over," he found it bereft of halflts beauty 
and its charms. The following touching stanzas are in- 
serted here, because they, while describing his sad be- 
reavement, will be perused by others — many others — ■ 
whose hearts have been kept warm and pure while on 
picket, battle, or camp duties, by the memory of those 
loved ones left at home, but whom the " Death- Angel" 
called away, leaving only a " kiss to dear papa whenever 
he comes home," and the child's heavenward calling, 
"Come home!" 

"Died, at White Store, March fifteenth, Grace, aged four years, 
only daughter of Louis and Harriet Brown, of Corning, N. Y. 

" The icy hand of death 

Was laid on cheek and brow, 
And Grace, tlje cherished idol, lay 
Beneath his shadow now. 
' Gracie, darling ! leave me not ! ' 

The anguished mother sighed : 
* Hush, mamma ! mamma, please be still ! ' 
The little sufferer cried. 

"'Dear brother, Grade's going home; 

Be good, my darling one, 
And give this kiss to dear papa, 

Whenever he comes home. 
Now I will go to sleep !' And soft 

The blue eyes closed — the breath 
Fluttered more faintly — then was still : 

Sweet Gracie slept in death. 

" Blest sleep ! to open those blue eyes 

Where death can never come. 
To gaze with wonder and surprise • 

Upon her heavenly home : 



20 ISDTII XEW-YOKK VOLrNTEERS. 

And looking back to the sad world, 

To her darkened earthly home, 
Is she not calling: 'Brother dear, 

Papa, mamma, come home'' P^ 

Surgeon Howard E. Gates ^vas bom at New-Hart- 
ford, Connecticut, June lit'teentli, 1S40. His father, a 
manufacturer, died >vhen Howard was twelve years of 
age. When his mother married again he lived with 
his step-father, in Litehlield, and attended school till he 
was eighteen years of age, excepting some time in 
which he was employed in the drug business. After- 
ward having studied medicine quite steadily till the 
winter of 1 860, he then went to Xew-York City, and 
attended a course of lectures. Heturning home and 
studying during the summer, he attended another 
course of lectures in the city the winter following. In 
July, 1861, he graditited at Long Island Hospital, 
Brooklyn, having completed the third course of lec- 
tures. After practicing in Litchfield till March, 1862, 
he moved to Fallsburgh, Sullivan Co., X. Y., where 
he practiced till July nhieteenth, 1862. He was mar- 
ried August twenty-second, 1862, to Miss Gracie M. 
Wessels. As Assistant-Surgeon he entered the service 
in the Eightieth New-York Volunteers, leavmg an ex- 
tensive business in Fallsburgh, for this purpose. AYith 
this regiment he was in the battles of Beverly Ford, 
Gainesville, Second Bull Kun, Chantilly, Groveton, 
South-Mountain, Antietam and Second Fredericks- 
burgh. From this regiment he entered the One Him- 
dred and Eighty-Ninth New- York as Surgeon, his com- 
mission bearing date November twentieth. 

Assistant-Surgeon Sidney D. Grasse was born in 
Bath, England, in the year 1841, of English parents. 



189TII NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 21 

His father, who was a pious man, the Son of Sir Frede- 
rick Grasse, was an officer in the Thirty-Ninth Regi- 
ment, or Rifle Brigade. His mother, Charlotte Her- 
chiner, was daughter of Rev. WilUam Herchiner, Dar- 
lington, Kent, England. When Sidney was about a 
year old his flither was ordered to India with his regi- 
ment, where he served, eleven years. On his return to 
'England he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Ri- 
fles, a permanent Canadian force, in which he served in 
diftcrent parts of the Provinces, until 1849, when cir- 
cumstances induced him to sell out, and he settled near 
Kingston, his present residence. He gave Sidney a 
good domestic education, and in 1853 he entered the 
University of Toronto, and graduated in 1857 with the 
degree of B.A. Until the year 1860 he devoted him- 
self to the study of civil engineering, when he entered 
the medical department of Queen's College, Kingston, 
where he graduated in the spring of 1864. In 1862 he 
obtained a commission as Assistant-Surgeon in the Uni- 
ted States service, under which he acted on duty at 
Washington till sickness necessitated his return home. 
On graduating at Queen's College he reaeived his com- 
mission, dated December twenty-third, 1864, for service 
in the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New-York Vo- 
lunteers, and joined this regiment while in camp before 
Petersburgh, and served with it faithfully, " through 
thick and thin," till the downfall of the rebellion. 

Henry Lanning, M.D., Assistant-Surgeon, was born 
in McLean, Tompkins County, N. Y., the sixteenth day 
of June, 1843. Until he was fifteen years of age, he 
attended the village school of his native place, after 
which he took the academic course of instruction at 



22 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEEES. 

Cortland Academy, Homer, N". Y. He commenced 
the study of medicine in 1860, with his father, Richard 
Lanning, M.D., then practising in McLean. The win- 
ter of 1861-2 was spent in attending the Medical De- 
partment of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 
In the spring of 1862, he accepted the position of Hos- 
pital Steward of the Eleventh Regiment, Louisiana 
Volunteers, United States Army, stationed at Milli- 
ken's Bend, La., where he remained until the climate 
had so impaired his health as to oblige him to leave. 
In 1864, he graduated at the Albany Medical College, 
and received commission of the date December twenty- 
sixth, 1864, as Assistant-Surgeon of the One Hundred 
and Eighty-Ninth N"ew-York Volunteers, with which 
he served with honor till it was discharged at Elmira, 
ISTevv-York. 

Addison Evans, Sutler, was born in Richburgh, Alle- 
gany County, N. Y., February thirteenth, 1837. Re- 
siding with his parents till 1854, he went to Bolivar 
village as clerk for Stephen W, Thomas, Esq., mer- 
chant. Thence traveling West, he visited California ; 
and having done some business, returned in Novem- 
ber, 1860. He enlisted on the first of May, 1861, in 
Company B, Twenty-third New- York Volunteers. In 
the fall he was transferred to Battery B, Fourth Unit- 
ed States Artillery, and with it fought in the battles of 
Rappahannock Station, White Sulphur Springs, second 
Bull Run, South-Mountain, Antietam, and second Fred- 
ericksburgh. In the battle of Antietam he was dan- 
gerously wounded in the left side by a Minie ball. 
Mustered out May twenty-second, 1863, he commenced 
keeping an eating-saloon in Washington, which busi- 



189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEEES. 23 

ness he pursued till he was appointed Sutler of the One 
Hundred and Eighty-Ninth. He was an obliging and 
highly respected officer. His partner, Mr. James W. 
Willett, whose portrait is also furnished in the frontis- 
l>iece, was well worthy of the high esteem with which 
he was universally regarded. Far better had it been 
for the soldiers if the Sutler's Department had always 
been conducted with as much uprightness as ours was 
by these two gentlemen. 

COIVSPANY A. 

This Company was principally raised in the town of 
Bath, Steuben County. It being well known that if 
volunteers were to be raised, Captain John Stocum was 
the man to do it, his townsmen urged him to enter the 
field once more. When, therefore, this popular and 
well-tried officer erected his little tent in the park of 
Bath village, volunteers flocked to him. The result is 
thus stated in one of the village papers : " Single-hand- 
ed and alone, in nine days he had a full company rais- 
ed, equipped, and mustered into the service. A better 
one it would be hard to find, as the military record 
shows." At the election of its officers, the company 
unanimously chose for First Lieutenant, Benjamin iN". 
Bennett ; for Second Lieutenant, John W. Brown ; 
whose cooperation and help had not been wanting in 
getting up the company. 

Captain John Stocum was born in Pultney, Steuben 
County, ]Sr. Y., April twenty-seventh, 1825. Orphan- 
ed at an early age, he came to Bath, Steuben Co., 
ISr. Y., a poor, friendless boy. There, by his industry, 
urbanity, and Christian integrity, he won a position 



24 189TH NEW- YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

amongst his fellow-citizens. He was an exemplary 
member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married 
February, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Metcalf, of Bath, 
who died in October, 1858. In June, 1860, he married 
again to Miss Susan B. Townsend, of Elmira. An up- 
right business man and merchant, he prospered. Sucli 
was the confidence the young men had in him, that in 
1861, when he announced that he was about to raise a 
battery, in two weeks his company was full. He was 
appointed Caj)tain, and his command denominated 
Battery E, First New- York Artillery, and was ordered 
to the front. After five months' service, a number of 
the officers of the regiment, among them Captain Sto- 
cum, were ordered to report for examinaticn, and very 
unwisely and unceremoniously dismissed the service, 
as the result showed. Soon after, Battery E was di- 
vided up and put in other batteries. Returning home, 
in 1862, when there was another call for men. Captain 
Stocum commenced recruiting Company F, One Hun- 
dred and Sixty-first Regiment, and was soon with his 
full command at Elmira. A severe epidemic breaking 
out among his troops, numbers died, and he was pros- 
trated with a fever three months. Meanwhile, his re- 
giment having been ordered to the Department of the 
Gulf, when he had sufiiciently recovered, he rejoined 
them rendezvoused at Baton Rouge in time to partake 
of the campaign against Port Hudson. Tho igh still 
feeble in health, he continued in command th"',,igh the 
battle of Plain's Store and during the memorajle siege 
and surrender of the stronghold, Port Hudson. But 
the effect of that climate being so severe upon his 
somewhat broken constitution, the surgeon ordered 
him to the hospital, where he remained two months. 



189th NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS, 25 

The hope of recovery there being small, he resigned 
and returned home. On the third day of September, 
1864, he commenced raising his third and last company 
for the war, with which he served, often placed in high- 
er commands, till the utter overthrow of the traitors* 
cause terminated the struggle. When he brought his 
company with the loss of only seven back, after it had 
been mustered out and paid, and marched it into the 
village square of Bath, to bid the brave boys farewell, 
then was to be seen how the noble, sympathizing, able 
officer was beloved by his men. 

First Lieutenant B. N. Bennett was a young man 
and highly useful officer. Having lent his influence 
for the raising of Company A, he was chosen, without 
any dissent, as its First Lieutenant. He was always 
present with his command, and did his duties cordially 
and well. On the march, in camp, or in battle. Lieu- 
tenant Bennett was ever on hand where duty called, 
reliable and true. He furnished no materials for his 
biographical sketch, but his deeds while a soldier are 
a sufficient praise and memorial. 

Second Lieutenant John W. Brown was born June 
twelfth, 1833, at Wheeler, Steuben County, N. Y. 
Living with his parents till he was twenty-one years of 
age, helping them upon the farm, he, as the oldest son, 
had but limited opportunity to acquire education. He 
was married in 1854, to Miss R. P. Haddon, adopted 
daughter of John J. Popins, Esq., of Pultney, and pur- 
sued his farming occupations on his own farm till 1862, 
when he enlisted as a private in Company G, One Hun- 
dred and Seventh New-York. Some time i^revious to 
2 



26 189TH NEW- YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

the close of his term of service, he was discharged on 
a surgeon's certificate of disability. On returning 
home, he entered the grocery business in Merchants- 
ville, till he again enlisted on the twentieth of Septem- 
ber, 1864, as Lieutenant, in Company A, with which 
he faithfully served till it was disbanded. 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial— Co. A. 

Orderly Sergeant, George Ellsworth ; Second Ser- 
geant, A. B. McFee ; Third Sergeant, Alonzo Van 
Wee ; Fourth Sergeant, Adin Yose ; Fifth Sergeant, 
Martin Higgins. 

Corporals : James Van "Wee, David Morrison, Vol- 
lin Court Allen, Nelson Kring, Horace Bennett, Isaac 
Adams, Charles Hackett, David Sharp, (died m hos- 
pital.) 

H. G. Preston, Drummer ; A. E. Booth, Fifer. 

Privates : Samuel A. Alden, Gilbert Alden, William 
Alger, John D. Aker, (died in Division Hospital,) 
Abel A. Andrews, Ira Bennet, Charles H. Brown, 
Byron Bennet, Isaac Baker, George Blakesley, Patrick 
H. Powers, Edgar H. Babcock, Daniel Burley, Daniel 
Brownell, James Bain, G. F. Culver, Henry D. Cum- 
mings, William B. Cox, Sidney Church, (died in hos- 
pital,) William Cooper, Jefferson J. Chase, ISTathaniel 
Dawley, Jary F. Eddy, James Farley, Isaac H. Ferris, 
George W. Ferris, (promoted Corporal,) Benjamin F. 
Ferris, (promoted Corporal,) John A. Filkins, Daniel 
Gray, Nelson C. Higgins, Warren Hurlburt, Joseph 
Hand, David Ilecox, Henry Herron, James Herron, 
Pobert Herron, Barney J. Hyre, Martin V. House, 
James Jackson, Jerome Jenkins, Frank Kaiser, (pro- 
moted Corpora],) Charles P. Knapp, Samuel Lewis, 



189TH NEW- YORK YOLUXTEEES. 27 

Wilson Logeiy, Samuel Lewis, Jr., Robert McBeth, 
Horace M. Weeks, Fayette A. Matteson, James JVfc- 
Cue, William Minnich, Richard McDowell, Moses F. 
Meeks, James McChesney, Moses M. Morse, Moses 
McChesney, William McChesney, (died in hospital,) 
E. J. Philijoson, Wilis Piatt, D. Philips, John Quigley, 
(died in hospital,) Lewis P. Russell, Isaac A. Rising, 
Kathaniel Searles, Norman Stewart, Charles E. Stew- 
art, Henry F. Travis, Henry L. Townsend, (promoted 
Corporal,) John Talbert, (died e7i route to front,) 
Wesley Travis, Jarvis Talbert, John Van Campen, 
Adolphus Welch, Henry Willis, Squire Wessels, Web- 
ster W. Waggoner, Isaac Warrick, John Watson, 
William H. Winship, Henry Covell, William Covell. 

COMPANY B 

was raised from the towns of Bolivar, Wirt, Clarks- 
ville. Friendship, New-Hudson, Caneadea, and Ahna, 
Allegany County. WiUiam H. Wlthey, Esq., of Rich- 
burgh, by his reputation as a soldier, and his ability 
and influence as a man and citizen, was the one to 
whom his fellow-citizens naturally looked when ^their 
town quotas were to be raised. By their request he 
undertook organizing a company. Receiving author- 
ity from Governor Seymour on the twenty-sixth of 
August for that purpose, assisted by his brother, Ser- 
geant Fayette Withey, of tfie One Hundred and Eigh- 
ty-fifth New- York Veteran Volunteers, and E. II. 
Kilbury, Esq., of Bolivar, he had one hundred and 
three men enlisted by the sixteenth day of September. 
They were mustered as a company organization on the 
twenty-first. The next day they elected by a unan- 
imous vote, William H. Withey, Captain ; Fayette 



28 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

Withey, First Lieutenant ; and E. R. Kilbuiy, Second 
Lieutenant. These officers cooperated at Eltnira with 
those of other companies circumstanced similarly with 
themselves, to secure a new regimental organization 
for their companies to enter, and the One Hundred 
and Eighty-ninth was the result. 

Captain Fayette Withey was born in Friendship, 
New- York, February tenth, 1833. When he was nine 
years old, his parents removed to. Bolivar, N". Y., where 
they resided until the death of his mother. He received 
a good common-school education. At the age of eigh- 
teen, he commenced work by the month in the lum- 
bering business. This and mechanical business engag- 
ed his time till the breaking out of the rebellion. In 
August, 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier for three 
years, and soon was appointed Sergeant in Company 
A, Eighty-fifth I^ew-York Volunteers, then about to 
start for the field. His regiment was under General 
Casey through General McClellan's Campaign before 
Richmond ; and, besides several skirmishes, participat- 
ed in the battles of Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill. In 
December, 1862, he went with his regiment to ISTorth- 
Carolina, and fought in the battles at Kinston, White- 
hall, and Goldsboro, and at the siege of Washington, 
K. C. Reenlisted at Plymouth, N. C, January first, 
1864, for another three years, he was at Roanoke Is- 
land during the siege of Plymouth, where all his regi- 
ment was captured by the rebels, excepting his com- 
pany, April twentieth, 1864. While detailed at Ply- 
mouth to superintend the construction of fortifications, 
he won by his able and strict attention to his duties 
the esteem of both officers and men. He built Fort 



189X11 NEW-YOKK VOLITNTEEES. 29 

Foster and other extensive and important works on 
Roanoke Island, giving entire satisfaction to the com- 
mandant of the post. Obtaining a furlough home Au- 
gust fifteenth, 1864, he soon engaged with his brother, 
Major William H. Withey, and Lieutenant E. R. Kil- 
bury, in raising Company B. He obtained an honor- 
able discharge from his old command, and was assign- 
ed to the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New- York 
as First Lieutenant of his company. On his brother, 
William H.'s promotion to the majority, he was made 
Captain. A better officer can not easily be found. 

First Lieutenant Edwin R. Kilbury was born Sep- 
tember second, 1826, in Fremont, Steuben County, 
N. Y. While dwelUng with his parents till he was of 
age, and helping them on the farm, he enjoyed the 
privilege of common-schools. At the age of twenty- 
one he married Miss Hannah M. Gates, of Fremont, 
and thereafter lumbered in Howard till February, 1854. 
At this date, moving into Allegany Co., he con- 
tinued his lumbering till 1859, when he was called as 
Justice of Sessions to move to Bolivar, where he acted 
till the close of his term, and was reelected Justice 
March, 1863. Assisting in raising Company B, he was 
chosen Second Lieutenant. While the regiment was 
in camp before Petersburgh, near Warren Station, he 
was detailed November nineteenth, 1864, as Brigade 
Ambulance Officer. He was promoted First Lieuten- 
ant at the time of the election of Major Withey. 

Second Lieutenant Lyman P. Hotchkiss was born 
October twenty-fourth, 1841, at Homer, Cortland Coun- 
ty, N. Y. He lived with his parents till his thirteenth 



30 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEEES. 

year, then traveled West, " to see the world," till the 
fall of 1859, when he returned to the State of New- 
York and worked with his brother on the farm. He 
had visited many of the most important places in the 
" far West," and became satisfied to settle at more 
quiet and steady pursuits. But the pro-slavery war 
breaking out, fired his heart with patriotic ardor, and 
he enlisted in the Twenty-third Regiment New-York 
Volunteers, in McDowell's Corps. He fought with his 
regiment in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Sul- 
phur Spring, Groveton, Second Bull Run. At the 
last place he was disabled by a shell. He so far re- 
covered as to rejoin his regiment at Belle Plain Land- 
ing, doing provost duty under General Patrick. Mus- 
tered out with his regiment at Elmira May twenty- 
second, 1863, he went to Eau Claire County, Wis., and 
worked by the month at lumbering the following year. 
Reenlisting September twenty-first, he was elected Or- 
derly in Company B, and afterward promoted to the 
Lieutenancy, vice Lieutenant Kilbury. At the battle 
of Gravelly Run, on March thirty-first, while forming 
picket-line with twenty men of his company, he was 
struck in the ankle-joint by a Minie ball. On his be- 
ing carried to the hospital, a council of surgeons de- 
cided that amputation was necessary. The brave Lieu- 
tenant replied : " I would like to save my leg, if pos- 
sible ; but if not, let it come ofi"." This was the only 
case of an officer's siiflTering amputation in the One 
Hundred and Eighty-ninth. A more courageous or 
better officer was not in the army. Although crippled 
for life, his marriage to Miss Almeda E. Smith, his 
former affianced, was celebrated on liis return home. 



1S9TII XEW-YORK VOLUXTEERS. 31 

Be it always an honor in our country to wear the 
marks and maims of her wounded defenders ! • 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial— Co. B. 

Orderly Sergeant, Lyman P. Hotchkiss, (promoted 
Second Lieutenant,) Second Sergeant, Hosea K. 
Gould ; Third Sergeant, Russell L. Hubard ; Fourth 
Sergeant, John Stickney ; Fifth Sergeant, S. D. Wil- 
liams. 

Corporals : Joseph C. Scott, (promoted Sergeant,) 
James Denison, James B. Wood, Andrew Kilbury, 
William H. Stryker, Dennis L. Gardiner, Thomas G. 
Crandall, Mathew V. Franklin, (promoted Orderly 
Sergeant.) 

Privates : Christopher Allen, Perry Allen, Marshall 
Allen, John E. Alexander, (wounded at Gravelly Run,) 
Joseph G. Ackerman, Walter B. Amidon, Thomas H. 
Applebee, George W. Baily, John J. Beers, Rowland 
L. Burdick, Laverne Burdick, Charles F. Brown, 
(taken prisoner at Lewis's Farm,) George W. Brooks, 
(wounded at Lewis's Farm,) Olin Baker, George W 
Burdge, Levi Barnum, James Bentley, Alfred J. Coon, 
(wounded at Lewis's Farm,) William Crandall, Sid- 
ney C. Clark, Hamilton Crane, Nelson J. Coolerick, 
Edward Clark, Joseph Cole, Webster W. Cole, Lyman 
J. Cole, Charles L. Carter, H. J. Campbell, (wounded 
at Lewis's Farm,) Daniel W. Drumb, Hiram Donal- 
son, James Eells, George E. Fritts, (promoted Corpo- 
ral,) Marcus A. Furnald, Charles K. Fay, Alva S. 
Foster, Benjamin H. Gardener, John Graham, Hiram 
Goodno, Charles Griffith, Henry Garthwait, (deserted 
in Elmira,) Stephen Gillet, Henry J. Gilbert, Oliver 
H. Gilbert, Oliver P. Hazzard, Harlan P.^ Hazzard, 



32 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

Elihu Hazzard, Hubard W. R. Head, (promoted Ser- 
geant,) Edmond C. Howe, Richard J. Ives, (died from 
wound received at Lewis' Farm,) Richard Lehar, Mo- 
ses Miller, Samuel Mead, Merrit Myers, (deserted,) 
James McElheny, John Nolan, William P. Neff, (died 
in hospital,) Cyrus Pattison, William Peterson, (died 
in hospital,) Thomas T. Pollard, (died in hospital,) 
Tisdell A. Puffer, Oscar A. Pyre, Ethel P. Rogers, Le- 
roy Rogers, William E. Richardson, Almond Robin- 
son, Lyman E. Root, (brigade blacksmith,) Albert 
Reed, (teamster,) Benjamin K. Stickney, (pioneer,) 
John Straight, (died in hospital,) Charles N. Smith, 
William H. Smith, Sanford IST. Scott, Edgar J. Scott, 
John Scott, Chandler R. Spencer, (died in hospital,) 
Samuel Severence, James A. Torry, (promoted Corpo- 
ral,) Daniel Thurston, (provost-guard,) Andrew J. 
Upham, Denis Vars, Sewal Wells, Charles W. Wilcox, 
Andrew J. White, (teamster,) Henry F. Woolstrura, 
Charles N. Williams, ISTorman O. Wheeler. 

COMPANY C 

was enlisted in August, 1864, in the towns of Whee- 
ler, Bath, AvOca, Canona, and Urbana, by Captain 
Burrage Rice, assisted by Lieutenants Robison and 
Warren. Mustered and clothed by September thir- 
teenth, it was at first assigned to the One Hundred 
and Seventy-fifth New- York, but a revocation of that 
assignment was secured by Captain Rice, at Albany, 
and it was afterward connected with the One Hundred 
and Eighty-ninth. 

Captain Burrage Rice was born June third, 1829, 
in the village of Bath, Steuben County, iN". Y., and re- 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLITNTEERS. 33 

mained there until he was four years old, when his 
father, Samuel A. Rice, removed to Michigan with his 
family. At the age of fourteen, he came to Pratts- 
burgh, and attended school at the Franklin Academy. 
Prepared to enter college — as an education was his 
greatest ambition — ^he was arranging to devote all his 
energies to completing his full educational course, 
when unfortunately his plans were frustrated, which 
has been the regret of his life. In 1850 he returned to 
Bath, and entered the store of James R. Dudley, as 
clerk. June eighth, 1853, he married Miss Mary F. 
Smith, daughter of Orrin Smith, of Bath. He was an 
active man in all public enterprises, and enjoyed in a 
large degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He 
had also made great progress in the study of law. At 
the breaking out of the rebellion, he Avas among the 
first to offer his services to his country. Enlisting as a 
private in the First Vermont Regiment, under the 
President's first call for three months men, he was 
stationed near Fortress Monroe. He took an active 
part in the battle of Big Bethel, in which his regiment 
distinguished itself for bravery. Mustered out with 
his regiment, a new one immediately being organized, 
he wasxjhosen Captain of one of its companies. This 
position he reluctantly relinquished, in response to an 
urgent appeal from his family and friends, and accept- 
ed the position of Under-Sheriff, in Bath, the duties of 
which he performed with marked ability for more than 
two years. Besides his own company, he helped raise 
other troops. A general favorite on account of his 
eminent military qualities and urbanity of character, 
he was promoted, November fourth, to be Brigade In- 
spector on the staff of Brigadier-General Gregory, of 
2* 



34 189TH NEW-TOEK YOLUNTEERS. 

the Second Brigade, to which the One Hundred and 
Eighty-ninth belonged — a position he filled with great 
ability till January eleventh, 1865, when he was shot 
dead by ambushed guerrillas, w^ho attacked a foraging 
party under his command, an account of w4iich is 
found in its proper place in Part Second of this work. 
His body was embalmed and sent home to his native 
village, where it was buried on Thursday, the nine- 
teenth of January, 1865, with Masonic honors. A 
large procession of his friends followed his remains to 
their final resting-place, mourning the untimely loss of 
a brave officer Jind loved commander, an estimable 
citizen and a worthy man. Dulce et decorum est pro 
patria mori. 

Captain Silas W. Robison, from the time of his 
birth, January sixth, 1832, in Hornellsville, Steuben 
County, N. Y., lived with his parents till his seventeenth 
year, busied with lumbering. He enjoyed but limited 
school privileges till at the age just mentioned, he went 
to Hammondsport to live with his sister, where he at- 
tended school winters, working on the farm during the 
summer season. He was one of the first volunteers 
who in 1861 shouldered the musket for right -against 
wrong, freedom against slavery, democracy against 
aristocracy. 

Entering Company I, Thirty-fourth New- York, as 
a private, he served two years faithfully. He was in 
the battles of Ball's Bluff, siege of Yorktown, Seven 
Days' Fight on the Peninsula, South-Mountain, Antie- 
tara, first and second Fredericksburgh. He wins pro- 
motion as Sergeant, and then as Orderly, and is dis- 
charged with his regiment at Albany, July, 1863. 



189th new- YORK VOLUNTEERS. 35 

Working on the farm for his sister till February, 
1864, he married at that date Miss K. T. Dykes, of 
Hammond^port, and buying a piece of land, pursued 
his farming avocation, until he entered the service again, 
as First Lieutenant of Company C, and having been in 
command of the company since Captain Rice's promo- 
tion, was commissioned Captain in his place upon the 
death of that accomplished officer. 

First Lieutenant Dwight Warren was born March 
twenty-first, 1831, in Bath, Steuben County, N. Y. His 
father was a farmer, and for several years was Colonel 
of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, New- York State Militia. 
He worked with his father on the farm till his twenty- 
first year, acquiring, meanwhile, a substantial common- 
school education. At that age he became foreman for 
a heavy contractor in railroading, on the Buffalo, jN'ew- 
York and Erie Railroad, and in ]^ovember of the same 
year was married to a daughter of the late Colonel 
Steven Grant, of Bath. Traveling in 1852, he visited 
most of the Western States, and acquired much valu- 
able knowledge, by which he will ever be greatly assist- 
ed in his business enterprises. Having worked at rail- 
roading a year, in Michigan, he returned in 1858 to 
New-York, and purchasing a farm, worked thereon till 
the war commenced. Selling his farm, he enlisted, 
August nineteenth, 1862, .as a private in Company F, 
One Hundred and Sixty-first New-York Volunteers, of 
which he was made Orderly Sergeant, October twenty- 
seventh. Attacked with the typhoid fever, he was left 
behind w^hen kis regiment sailed, December twelfth, for 
New-Orleans, with Banks's Expedition. Having suffi- 
ciently regained his health, he left the city of New^-York 



56 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEEES. 

January seventeenth, 1863, and barely escaping being 
wrecked on that stormy passage, landed at Key West, 
January twenty-fourth. Reembarking the twenty-sixth 
and encountering a severe gale on the Gulf, he safely 
arrived at New-Orleans, and joined his regiment at Ba- 
ton Rouge on the twentieth February. He heroically 
served in the campaign through Louisiana, under Gen- 
eral Banks, that terminated so gloriously on the eighth 
of July, 1863, in the capture of that famous stronghold, 
Port Hudson. At the close of one year he w^as obliged 
by sickness to leave the service, and, being discharged, 
returned, home. In the fall of 1864, having partially 
recovered, he assisted Captain Burrage Rice to raise 
Company C, of which he w^as unanimously elected Se- 
cond Lieutenant. On the death of the Captain he was 
made First Lieutenant. His services were always con- 
scientious and satisfactory. 

Second Lieutenant Mortimep W. Read was born in 

LTrbana, Steuben County, N. Y., March sixteenth, 1841. 

When he was but seven years of age he undertook the 

responsibility of a " hired man," for wages, at farming, 

«^hich continued his principal business until treason's 

irst gun shot at Fort Sumter caused the great uprising 

:)f the North to rescue the Republic. No braver heart 

A^as then fired with patriotism than that of young 

Read. He promptly responded to the call of " Honest 

Old Abe," and volunteered for two years in Company 

A, Twenty-third New-York Volunteers, served out his 

time, and with his regiment received his discharge. May 

twenty-sixth, 1863. Thereupon he traveled through 

the West, and returned in time to enlist again under 

Captain Rice, August twenty-second, 1864. Upon the 



189TH KEW-TORK YOLUNTEERS." Si 

organization of Company C, at Bath, he was unani- 
mously chosen its Orderly Sergeant. He rose to the 
lieutenancy in due course, upon the captaincy being va- 
cated by the death of Captain Rice. 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial— Co. C. 

Sergeants : Mortimer W. Read, Orderly, (promoted 
Second Lieutenant,) Andrew P. Snell, (promoted Order- 
ly,) Joseph Mott, Seymour H. Huston, (promoted Ser- 
geant-Major,) Shephard S. Wheeler. 

Corporals : Jonas W. Emmons, (promoted Sergeant,) 
Harvey A. Fairchild, George Wheeler, John Horton, 
John Presho, William A. Jayn, WiUiam McEIwain, 
Charles E. Willys, Drummer; F. Abbott, Fifer; H. 
Sprague. 

^ Privates: Thomas H. Aulls, John S. Benham, Wil- 
liam Bottriel, Henry G. Bull, (died in camp,) Daniel 
Brace, (died in hospital,) Charles W. Barrett, (missing 
at Hatcher's Run,) Ebenezer Barrett, James Bennett, 
Anthony Bates, Stephen A. Baily, James Bradley, 
William Brewer, John J. Buchannan, David D. Chapin, 
(promoted Corporal,) Abraham Clarkson, George B. 
Carr, William Cornwell, Myron Clark, Theron H. 
Clark, Elisha Dyer, Simeon Decker, Benjamin Davis, 
Julius C. Dunton, George T. Daniels, Elisha H. Evans, 
William Edgar, Oscar F. Ellison, Mortimer Furguson, 
Samuel Faucett, (promoted Sergeant,) Charles M. Frink, 
(died in Division Hospital,) Charles S. Gray, Charles M. 
Gi-ay, Abraham S. Gould, (promoted Corporal,) Judson 
V. Gaige, Stephen H. Hagadorn, (promoted Corporal,) 
Samuel G. Hicock, Edward Huston, (promoted Corpo- 
ral,) Obadiah Jacobus, Solomon Jordan, Warren J. 



38 189TH 3^EW-Y0EK VOLUNTEERS. 

Knight, (died in Post Hospital,) John Kniffin, Harvey 
King, (deserted at Elraira, October third,) Wilbur 
Ketchum, John II. Kingkade, James S. Loghry, (died in 
hospital,) Amos Little, Henry C. Little, Justin Lamb, 
Marcus Lockwood, Charles Laughlin, Eli S. Little, 
Henry Morrison, James McPherson, Joseph Mulholen, 
Thomas Maxwell, Charles McCann, John McCullough, 
Merton Ostrander, John Pratt, George A. Peck, Theo- 
dore Ries, William C. Rice, (promoted Corporal,) Mi- 
chael Shea, John P. Slocum, Stephen Smalley, Andrew* 
Sillyman, Louis Sillyman, Washington Sillyman, Pa- 
trick Shanley, Barney Shanley, Alva D. Simons, Merlin 
L. Shultz, James N. Thorp, Alonzo Vunk, Amos C. 
Yanorsdale, David Vangelder, Amasa Vangelder, Sa- 
muel White, William White, William H. Wheeler, 
George A. Weaver, Isaac Watts, (promoted Hospital 
Steward,) Howard Watters, (died in hospital,) Charles 
H. Wood, Frank S. Woods, James Woodbury, Fran- 
cis M. Woodruff. 

^ COMPANY D. 

The patriotic towns of Brookfield and Hamilton, 
Madison County, desirous of promptly raising their 
quotas under the last call of the President, consulted 
with Captain E. D. Hills, of the former town, through 
their town committees, and induced him to undertake 
the organization of a company, in conjunction with 
Messrs. C. H. Searle and William H. Kellogg, and, as- 
sisted by the town committees, he, more by private ap- 
])lications than by public meetings, prospered in recruit- 
ing finely, and the Company was full in ten days. The 
enlisted men assembled at Oswego, on the first of Sep- 
tember, and having been mustered as a company, with 



189Tn NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 39 

E. D, Hills as Captain, C. H. Searle First Lieutenant, 
and W. H. Kellogg Second Lieutenant, they received 
furloughs till the twelfth September. On the thirteenth, 
having returned to Oswego the previous day, they were 
ordered to Elmira. They expected to join the One 
Hundred and Eighty-fourth, but that already having 
received its maximum number, their officers cooperated 
with those of several other companies then at the ren- 
dezvous, and obtained permission to organize the One 
Hundred and Eighty-Mnth, of which this Company be- 
came a part, lettered D. 

Captain E. Darwin Hills was born November twelfth, 
1838, in Brookfield, Madison County, K". Y. Living 
with his parents till he had attained his twentieth year, 
he acquired a good education. At this period he went 
to Oswego, and engaged in the carpentering business, 
which he soon exchanged for wagon-making. This busi- 
ness he maintained till the manifest qualifications he 
possessed as a military man, and his influence in his 
county, pointed him out as the one to raise a company 
standard to rally recruits towards the five hundred 
thousand call. His commission as captain dates, Sep- 
tember twenty- third, 1864. He was married on the 
fourth of February, 1862, to Miss L. Adelia Sloan, of 
Middleville, Herkimer County, N". Y. An excellent 
commander, he possessed the confidence of all his fellow- 
officers. His popularity w^ith his Company is evinced 
by their oft-expressed aftection for him, and by a perma- 
nent memento of their regard which he bears with him 
in the shape of a valuable gold watch, presented him 
by them while in camp near Hatcher's Run, shortly af- 
ter the last battle at that locahty. 



40 189TH NETV-TOEK TOLUNTEEES. 

Lieutenant Charles Henry Seaple's flither was a 
farmer and si^eculator. For many years, also, he was 
a prominent officer in the militia of his State, manifest- 
ing such ability as won him successive promotions, from 
the office of Second Lieutenant to that of Brigadier- 
General. This position he held at the time of his sud- 
den death, in 1844, when the subject of this memoir 
was only two years old. He was the fourth of five 
rons whom their father's death left to a fond and ex- 
cellent mother's care. Born and brought up on a firm, 
he became well instructed in the various phases of an 
agricultural life. A mile distant from his native place 
in Brookfield, is the school-house where he learned his 
first lessons and afterward prosecuted his maturer 
studies. At eighteen years of age he commenced at- 
tending "Whitestown Seminary, first studying only win- 
ters, but subsequently teaching winters and studying 
summers. In the spring of 1864 he had finished his 
academic course, and planned to enter Hamilton College 
the following term, when the President's " call for five 
hundred thousand more" changed his plans. Two bro- 
thers. Lieutenant T. E. Searle, and Captain Homer "W. 
Searle, both then in the army, with his mother, en- 
deavored in vain to persuade him not to enlist. Vol- 
unteering, he at once commenced assisting in raising 
Company C. Owing to the illness of the Captain, the 
command of the company often during the year de- 
volved upon Lieutenant Searle. This was the case dur- 
ing the Weldon Railroad raid, on a foraging expedi- 
tion in the winter, and during the battle of Five 
Forks. 



189th new-yoek volunteers. 41 

Second Lieutenant William H. Kellogg was bora 
ill XJtica, New- York, February fourth, ]838. When 
lie was three years old, his father moved to Brookfiel^, 
Madison County, N. Y., where he prosecuted his stu- 
dies in the English branches without much interrup- 
tion-till his father died, which occurred when William 
was seventeen. Still he pursued the higher branches 
of education afterward for several winters at the 
Brookfield Academy, defraying his necessary expenses 
with funds raised by his own industry. Traveling 
through the Western States and Canadas a year, on 
his return he was married, and engaged in shoemaking. 
This was his business till the minions of slavery insult- 
ed the glorious flag of the free, when he enlisted in 
the United States service for three years. He was 
private in Company A, First ISTew-York Artillery, and 
took part in several engagements in the Peninsula cam- 
paign. His battery losing its guns at the battle of 
Fair Oaks, the company were assigned to other bat- 
teries, and he was detailed on the recruiting service. 
After assisting to raise another artillery company, he 
served with it six months as Second Sergeant, when 
he was honorably discharged, having seen twenty 
months' hard service. Owning a house and lot in 
Leonardsville, he there resumed his former business 
w^ith unabated success. Rearoused with thousands 
of others by the last Executive call for help, when vol- 
unteering was stimulated by the warning of an im- 
pending draft, by the profiers of large bounties, and 
chiefly by the promptings of a noble patriotism, he 
again enrolled his name with his country's armed de- 
fenders, and, with Company C, raised in part by his 
help, marched to meet the rebel foe, nor shrank from 



42 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

duty till the Union triumphed, and peace, lovely peace, 
revisited our slavery-cursed, war-desolated land. 

Non-Commlssioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial— Co. D. 

Sergeants r Willis A. Merrifield, Orderly; John T. 
Rogers, H. D. Scott, Oscar IST. Burdick, James E. 
Tracy. 

Corporals: E. D. Morgan, Millard F. Morgan, 
Charles P. White, Lorenzo D. Morgan, Ray D. Mor- 
gan, John Fisk, Amos A. Frost, Daniel French. 

Privates : A. J. Austin, William L. Austin, (wound- 
ed at Gravelly Run,) Isaac Armstrong, Sidney Beek- 
man, ISTathan R. Burdick, Chancy Beekman, (died in 
hospital,) Orrin D. Bassett, Smith A. Bronson, John 
A. Bradley, Morris Blanchard, Alanson S. Clark, C. E. 
Clark, Stephen H. Collins, James H. Crowell, (died 
April seventeenth, from wound received at Gravelly 
Run,) James Clark, Robert Cramphin, Henry Cash, 
Levi J. Davids, Lafayette Dennison, Thomas Dye, 
Jeremiah Dyball, James K. Deyo, Martin Frink^ ."Wil- 
liam M. Fulkerson, Eri R. Green, Ambrose Groves, 
William R. Gardener, Milo Green, Truman M. Greg- 
ory, Ethan Greenman, Van R. Gray, John Galligher, 
Thomas Griffin, F. Eugene Hills, Jonathan Hibbard, 
(wounded at Gravelly Run,) Henry W. Hibbard, 
Duane Holmes, Franklin J. Holmes, (died in hospi- 
tal,) Eugene Holmes, Jerome Holmes, Edward Jor- 
dan, Marshall Johnston, Dwight Jaquay, James M. 
Johnson, William D. Knight, William H. Kenyon, 
Amos D. Lamb, (died in hospital,) Elwood Lamb, 
(died in hospital ;) La Mott Morgan, Marvin S. Mi- 
ner, Charles M. 3Lann, (died in hospital,) Mortimer 
L. Moon, Leroy T. Maxton, Charles Mattison, Albert 



189TII NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 43 

Morgan, Jesse P. McDonald, Adelbcrt ISTutting, Ai 
D. Poppleton, J. Morris Palmer, Sardis Palmer, Her- 
man Palmer, Chester C. Risley, Mortimer C. Risley, 
George W. Rice, William H. Rollins, Levi W. Sam- 
son, Squire J. Swan, Oscar F. Sturtevant, Delos Sher- 
wood, Jerome Sherwood, W. C Stm-tevant, Henry 
Stowell, Andrew Stowell, Samuel Shapley, Giles R. 
Talbott, Eli Waters, Daniel O. Welch, Alvine Welch, 
William H. Welch, John A. White, Francis M. White, 
John M. Wildman, George A. Wilcox, Thomas B. 
Wells, Alfred Wix, William Worrey, 

COMPANY E 

was one of the finest companies of its regiment. It 
was raised in the county of Oswego. The county war 
committee appointed Professor A. M. Beman Captain, 
to raise a company for the One Hundred and Eighty- 
fourth ISTew-York Volunteers. By his energy and in- 
fluence, assisted by Professor D. D. Owen and some 
others, the formation of the company was completed, 
and left Oswego on the fourteenth of September, for 
Elmira, with Professor Beman its Captain, Professor 
Owen its First Lieutenant, and Mr. Byron Hinman its 
Second Lieutenant. On their arrival at the rendez- 
vous, they found themselves shut out of the One Hun- 
dred and Eighty-fourth, but uniting with others, suc- 
ceeded in getting another regimental organization, de- 
nominated the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New- 
York Volunteers. With this they cast in their lot, re- 
ceived their literal designation, and marched to the 
front to " do and dare " for " God and their native 
land." 

Captain A. M. Beman was born at Orwell, Oswego 



44 189Tn NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

County, N. Y., January twenty-ninth, 1840. Ilis par- 
ents, when he was three years old, removed to Ellis- 
burgh, Jefferson County, remained three years, return- 
ed to Orwell, remained till the spring of 185*7, thence 
removed to Redficld, Osw^ego County, remained three 
years, and again returned to Orwell. That most en- 
during, fascinating, and important part of a true educa- 
tion in this life — that which the loving words and deeds 
of a fond mother impart — he early received. His moth- 
er taught him the principles of the Christian religion. 
When a mere chilli, he remembers his mother telling 
him about heaven, its holiness, and the happiness of its 
inhabitants. He was early sent to the district-school, 
and was always found at the Sabbath-school. In the 
fall of 1854, his mother died. Cold, how cold and 
drear, seemed the World then to him ! But so peace- 
ful was her death, ever has he prayed that his last days 
may be like hers. While her spirit lingered on the con- 
fines of this world, she softly said : 

" Jesus can make a dying bed 
Feel soft as downy pillows are." 

Her holy living and dying has since been a constant 
souvenir to him of the supreme worth of virtue, purity, 
manhood, character, above all other things. Intent 
upon acquiring a liberal education, the winter he was 
seventeen he commenced school-teaching. He was 
converted in his eighteenth year. Teaching Avinters 
and working manually summers, he was truly making 
his way onward with that most proper and noble inten- 
tion that ever inspired the soul of youth — that of ac- 
quiring a collegiate education — when the outbreak of 
" the irrepressible conflict '^ resounded through the 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 45 

length and breadth of the land, ari;esting all pursuits, 
calling the son from his home, the student from his 
books, the farmer from his plow, the merchant from 
his counter, and the mechanic from his trade, all unit- 
ing " to uphold the Constitution and enforce the laws." 
Captain Beman enlisted as a private in the Twenty- 
fourth New- York Volunteers, and served the full pe- 
riod of his regiment — twO years. Returning home in 
June, 1863, he taught the winter following, and resum- 
ed in the spring of 1864 his studies, which he prosecuted 
with vigor till August twenty-seventh, 1864, when he 
commenced raising, with the assistance aforesaid, his 
Company E, with whom he was destined to see the end 
of secession and oppression, and the triumph of free 
labor. He was married September sixth, 1864, to Miss 
Anna S. Wood, adopted daughter of J. "W. Wood, 
Esq., of Pulaski, New- York. Never a better officer 
drew the sword. Putting down the rebellion was a 
part of his religion. It was he whom Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Gregory called to his staff as Inspector-General of 
the Second Brigade, in place of Captain Rice, when 
that honored officer was stricken from his place by 
cowardly guerrillas' murderous hands. In that position 
he served till the end of the war. 

First Lieutenant D. D. Owen was fortunate in hav- 
ing his birth and early education in a district in the 
town of Palermo, Oswego County, w^hose inhabitants 
prided themselves on having the best conducted rural 
common-school in the county. They sought superior 
teachers. Accordingly, the scholars felt a like pride 
in the success and high standing of the school. Win- 
ter classes were organized in the higher mathematics, 



46 189TH new-toek: volunteers. 

natural sciences, a^d ancient languages. Here Lieu- 
tenant Owen well-nigh completed an academic course. 
The winter after he was seventeen — that of 1854 — he 
taught district-school, which has been his business 
every winter since, excepting last winter, during which 
he was mostly engaged in teaching " the school of the 
soldier and company how to shoot." Attending Mex- 
ico Academy the fall of 1856, he continued his studies 
under Professor J. R. French, one of the best mathe- 
maticians and teachers of the State, for several terms. 
From the autumn of 1858 to the time of his enlistment, 
he was teacher of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 
successively in Mexico Academy, Fairfield Seminary, 
and Pulaski Academy. August, 1864, came, and he 
raised at Pulaski, New- York, several recruits for Com- 
pany E, with whom he did the duties of an accom- 
plished soldier and officer. He was another of those 
consistent Christian men whom all soldiers feel glad to 
have among them, though all do not emulate. He had 
command of the company from the promotion of Cap- 
tain Beman till the close of the war. 

Second Lieutenant Bypon Hinman was born March 
twenty-seventh, 1837, at Sandy Creek, Oswego Coun- 
ty, N. Y., and always resided there. By trade he is 
a carpenter and joiner. He first entered the service on 
May seventeenth, 1861, as Sergeant, for two years. 
At the termination of his term, he was discharged, 
bearing home with him the high esteem of his officers 
and fellow-soldiers, side by side with whom he faith- 
fully fought in the memorable battles of Rappahannock 
Station, Gainesville, Bull Run, Centreville, Fredcricks- 
burgh, Falmouth, South-Mountain, and Antietam. Re- 



189TH NEW-YOEK VOLTTNTEERS. 47 

enlisting August twenty-seventh, 1864, and assisting to 
raise his company, he was promoted to be Second Lieu- 
tenant by a unanimous vote at its ©rganization. Be 
such a record as this an imperishable honor to an 
American citizen ! 

Non- Commissioned Officers' and Privates' IVIemorial— Co. E. 

Sergeants : Judson Field, Orderly and Acting Ser- 
geant-Major three months ; Andrew S. Coey, Charles 
E. Thomas, Solon W. Martin, A. J. Simonds. 

Corporals : D. D. Porter, S. A. Seymour, Franklin 
Sperry, E. Eoberts, (escaping from hospital insane, com- 
mitted suicide by throwing himself before a locomotive 
at City Point, and was run over,) Abram Doane, H. J. 
Dopp, Porter J. Homer, Leroy Wellington. 

Privates : Hiram Allen, Philip Ament, John Arm- 
strong, George Aldrich, H. J. Burch, J. F. Bonner, 
Porter Beebe, M. C. Brooks, William Barney, Samuel 
Brown, William Brothers, Jerome Bleakman, H. 1\ . 
Babcock, James Burke, Peter Cadet, D. Castle, N. S. 
Crossett, Jerry Cornnell, Daniel Carter, George Da- 
mon, EHas R. Dingman, Lewis Durgey, John Devits, 
Ebenezer Evans, Henry Finstre, William H. Gardner, 
P. M. Gaylord, Simon Grote, A. D. Gray, Charles 
Gurley, Henry Groves, Harvey Gregory, Henry Hollis, 
Sidney Hall, Darius Hall, (died in hospital,) Robert Li- 
graham, Charles S. Jeffers, L*a Kimball, Herbert E. 
King, (promoted Corporal,) A. C. Kellogg, William T. 
Kenyon, Eugene H. Menzie, E. H. Morris, Fred. Myers, 
Levi Miles, A. B. Morse, Thomas Mullen, H. W. 
Myers, John McNamara, Edward Morris, John Moshcr, 
J. R. Nash, John Nash, George W. Odekirk, Chailes 



48 189TH NEW-TORK VOLUNTEEKS. 

Oatley, Henry S. Phelps, Sylvester Phelps, Erastus 
Porter, Simeon Plummer, Thomas Qiiinn, Randolph 
Rathbun, J. T. • Richards, (died in hospital,) L. C. 
Riinyon, William. Royce, Ransom Snyder, Marshall 
Stoel, (died in hospital,) G. E. Stowell, Milan Stoel, L. 
C. Sampson, A. E. Sherman, S. G. Snyder, Charles 
Stuart, George G. Simons, Henry N". Smith, Truman 
Smith, Alexander Shipman, Warren Sturdevant, George 
Simons, G. D. Thomas, Jacob Thomas, James Thomp- 
son, (deserted at Little York, Pa.,) David A. Vanal- 
stine, R. A. Wakefield, Sherman Wart, A. A. War- 
ner, William Walworth, Thomas Wills, George C. Wil- 
ber, Barak G. Whipple, J. S. Wilcox, Stanley Westfall, 
Martin B. Wardwell, George Witmaier. 

COIVIPANY F 

was raised mainly in Constantia, Oswego County. In 
consultation with Messrs. E. A. Marble and Eugene H. 
Roney, the town war committee prevailed on them to 
undertake the enterprise of raising a company. A 
public meeting was held in Cleveland, and one at Con- 
stantia, at which several men were enlisted. But advo- 
cates of the claims of individual duty generally suc- 
ceed better by personal appeals to those concerned 
than by public addresses. So they visited men at their 
homes or place of business, and secured their enlist- 
ments under the army banner of the Union. In five 
days they had the quota of their town filled, and the 
residue of the maximum number of their company they 
obtained in Elmira, by the aid of Provost-Marshal 
Hayt. On the second of October, the company was 
mustered with Mr. Marble as Captain, Mr. Roney 



189Tn NEW- YORK VOLUNTEERS. 49 

First Lieutenant, and Mr. A. C. Reynolds Second 
Lieutenant. Joining the One Hundred and Eighty- 
Ninth, they started for City Point on the fourth of Oc- 
tober. 

Captain Edward A. Marble was born November 
tenth, 1840, at Cleveland, Oswego County, IST. Y., 
,where liis father, Cyrus Marble, Esq., owned a hotel. 
He has always lived with his parents there, enjoying 
the privilege of acquiring a liberal education, at district, 
select and academic schools. When the strange cry, 
" To arms ! Washington is in danger ! ! " reverberated 
throughout the North, he marched to the seat of war 
as a private of Company G, Fourteenth New-York Yol- 
iinteers. May third, 1861. He was promoted to Cor- 
poral, and then to Sergeant, which was his position at 
the end of his two years' term, when he was discharged 
Avith his regiment. He partook of the hard fighting 
during the Peninsula campaign, under McClellan, in 
the battles of second Bull Run, Hanover Court-House, 
Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill, Malvern Hill, Antietam ; 
under Burnside, in first Fredericksburgh, and under 
Hooker, in Chancellorsville. He was ever faithful in 
his duties ; 

" And a better soldier none 
That Christendom gives out. " 

At Malvern Hill he was wounded in the arm. En- 
listing as private again, September twenty-third, with 
Adjutant Roney's aid, he raised Company F, and with 
it " did battle to the last." 

First Lieutenant Andrew C. Reynolds suffered at 
the age of seventeen the loss of his mother, who died 
in 1850. Thereupon, leaving his native place, West- 



50 189TH NEW-YORK YOLUNTEERS. 

Monroe, Oswego County, X. Y., where lie had lived 
with his parents up to that time, he followed boating 
and lumbering till the year 1 85 8. He had been brought 
up on a farm, and had acquired a good common-school 
education. He married, March, 1856, Miss Sarah C. 
Dakin, of Constantia. Returning from a lumbering en- 
terprise in Michigan, and purchasing a boat, he resumed 
his former avocation as boatman. Having read law 
wath William H. Baker, Esq., he was elected Justice of 
the Peace, and serving a year, resigned, and bought a 
boat again. His military career begun August thirtieth^ 
1854, as a private. Being elected Second Lieutenant 
by his company, at its organization, he was promoted 
to be First Lieutenant when Lieutenant Roney was 
made Adjutant. Few officers served more conscien- 
tiously and efficiently than he. 

Second Lieutenant Ch'fford E. Rohde, born in Con- 
stantia, Oswego Coimty, N. Y., January first, 1820, 
lived with his parents till he arrived at his twenty-first 
year. He had acquired as much learning as common- 
schools are accustomed to impart. He engaged in the 
boating business on the Oneida Lake and Canal, in which 
he continued ten years. In 1851 he was married to 
Miss Rachael B. Sperry, of Constantia, and buying a 
farm followed agricultural pursuits till the spring of 
1852, when he took a journey overland to California. 
Passing Saint Joseph, his train reached Salt Lake City 
just in time to wdtness the grand Mormon celebration 
of the 24th of July — the anniversary of the beginning 
of the Saints' settlement in Utah. A well-entertained 
guest among them for two weeks, he beheld with utter 
disgust the workings of their '' peculiar institution," 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 51 

" twin sister of barbarism " to slavery. Would that 
both of them had perished together ! Westward the 
resistless sway of true progress makes its way, and our 
Republic, if true to her divine mission, with free 
thought, free speech, free press, and free labor, regulat- 
ed by righteous law, shall renovate the vast West, and 
obliterate all customs and crimes hostile to Christian 
civilization. Remaining in the gold regions three years, 
he returned, to take another trip after the lapse of three 
years. On this second trip, in 1859, he barely escaped 
death, in an attack upon the train by Indians, when 
eighty miles north of Salt Lake. This time he also 
staid three years, when, returning home, he followed 
farming, until he enlisted, September fifth, 1864; was 
elected Orderly Sergeant, and succeeded to the lieute- 
nancy on its being vacated by Lieutenant Reynolds's 
promotion. His honest, steady service attracted the 
love of all his comrades. 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial.— Co. F. 

Sergeants: Clifford E. Rohde, Orderly, promoted 
Second Lieutenant ; George F. Marble, promoted Or- 
derly ; Levi W. EUis, Charles F. Yates, Silas Drum. 

Corporals : Simon Halligan, promoted Sergeant ; Le- 
raan Teter, promoted Sergeant ; Warren Razy, John 
C. Kimball, Thomas D. Dean, Frederick Wright, Eu- 
gene L. Albee, Henry Cook ; Fifer, J. Arthur Watson ; 
Drummer, Edward H. Hoose. 

Privates ; George W. Abbee, John H. Babcock, Da- 
rius L. Babcock, Timothy Bartlett, Nathan G. Beebee, 
George A. Bedell, Edgar Benchley, Luman C. Berry, 
Benjamin F. Bristol, Richard Burdan, Oscar Bunker, 
(promoted Corporal;) George W. Bunker, James N. 



§2 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLtTNTEEES. 

Brady, Barney Bebee, (deserted ;) John Casey, James 
G. Clark, (died in transitu from Corps Hospital North ;) 
Charles W. Clark, (deserted;) Benjamin Coant, Francis 
Clock, Frederick H. Cook, Andrew Crandall, Thomas 
C. Chambers, (promoted Corporal;) Henry Davis, 
(killed at Lewis's Farm ;) John B. Davis, Washington 
Dutcher, W. H. Dutcher, A. J. Dmiham, Horace Dickie, 
Frank Emerey, (killed at Lewis's Farm ;) Peter B. 
Ferris, Chauncy Foot, Louis P. GiUins, Samuel God- 
frey, A. P. Gould, Livingston B. Gregory, Albert Ha- 
milton, Jacob Hedrick, William H. Houghtailing, (de- 
serted ; Daniel Heman, Henry Harris, (promoted Com- 
missary Sergeant ;) John H. Haxton, (Provost Guard ;) 
Peter Farrand, William H. Hilly er, Jamain Kimball, 
(killed at Lewis's Farm;) James P. Krusen, A. B. 
Lewis, (promoted Orderly ;) James Little, (deserted ;) 
Samuel Loder, Benjamin F. Lewis, Henry McDonald, 
(wounded at Lewis's Farm ;) WilUam Mara, Owen 
Mulholland, Charles L. Madison, Hiram Morton, George 
S. Marsh, John H. Maloney, Andrew Nickerson, David 
Nudd, Simon H. Odell, John E. Pearsall, William Per- 
kins, Amos G. Payne, John Quackenbush, Martin Row- 
ley, John Kyan, William H. Taylor, John Town, Henry 
P. Sherman, Frederick Ulman, (suffered amputation, 
afterward death, from wound received at Lewis's 
Farm ;) Samuel Vanderpool, Peter Van Den Bergh, (pro- 
moted Corporal ;) Henry Vandenwerken, Edwin West, 
Theodore Wood, Deloss Withey, George Wilder, H. 
S. Wagoner, Irving Wetherbe, (discharged before leav- 
ing Elmira.) 

Company G 

was recruited in the towns of Cohocton, Avoca, and 
Wayland, in Steuben County. . In this section the feel- 



189TH NEW-TOEK VOLITNTEEES. 53 

ings of the inhabitants were the same as everywhere 
prevailed under the Administration's last call for men. 
Three things, the large bounties, the coming draft, and 
the love of country, made " the field white, ready for 
the harvest." The full maximum number of this Com- 
pany was raised by the perseverance and patriotism of 
William Washburn, Esq., assisted by Mr. E. A. Draper, 
and mustered in the month of September, 1864. The 
former gentleman w^as unanimously chosen Captain, the 
latter First Lieutenant, and Mr. A. J. Alden, Second 
Lieutenant, who accompanied it to the field and through 
the final campaign which successfully crushed the great 
rebellion. 

Captain William Washburn's parents moved from 
Connecticut to his native place, Cohocton, Steuben 
County, N. Y., ten years previous to his birth, July 
ninth, 1826. According to his parents' custom, he 
being the fourth son, at twelve years of age, was placed 
at work for wages, under good care, both to earn his 
own livelihood and diminish the expenses of the large 
family. Going to school winters and to manual labor 
summers, he thoroughly learned the lessons 6f industry, 
economy, temperance, integrity, and primary literature, 
certain to conduct to success in life. He never in his 
life drank a drink of ardent spirits, never smoked a 
cigar or pipe, never uttered a profane word, and does not 
know one card from another. At the age of eighteen 
he removed to the then North- West Territory, (Wis- 
consin,) purchased eighty acres of land, worked it 
summers and taught school winters for ten years. 
His family is eminently pedagogic. Plis father taught 
nineteen years, his sisters, Clarissa and Sarah, taught, 



64 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

respectively, twenty-one and nine years ; his brothers, 
George, Richard, James, and Jackson, respectively ele- 
ven, six, five, and four years. No one of them ever 
failed to complete any term he or she commenced. 

On the eighth day of June, 1848, he was married to 
Miss Mary R. Johnson, daughter of William Johnson, 
Esq., of Groveland, Livingston County, N. Y. On 
returning from the West to his native place, in 1851, 
he soon entered into the railroad business, as agent of 
the Buffalo, Corning and New- York Company, subse- 
quently the Erie Railroad Company, in which employ- 
ment he continued till he entered the service of his 
Government. 

First Lieutenant Edwin A. Draper always lived with 
his parents in his native village, Cohocton, Steuben 
County, N. Y. He w^as born October eighth, 1837. 
All the privileges of common and select schools were 
given him by his parents, who were clothing merchants. 
His urbane manners made him his father's most natural 
assistant in the store when not at school. Enlisting 
October first, 1862, as Second Lieutenant in Company 
I, One Hundred and Sixty-first New- York, he served 
faithfully two years with General Banks in Louisiana 
through the battles of Sabine Cross-Roads, Pleasant 
Hill, Red River Crossing, Alexandria, Atchafalaya, 
and Morganzia Bend. He was married July fifth, 1864, 
to Miss C. M. Goss, of Detroit, Michigan. Reenhsted 
as a private, August thirty-first, 1864, and enhsting 
twenty-seven men for his company, upon organization, 
it promoted him by vote to the First Lieutenancy. He 
was a neat, skillful officer and real military man, whom 



189th NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 55 

the Adjutant would always designate to perform Lis 
duties when he was absent. 

Second Lieutenant Andrew J. Alden was born Oc- 
tober twentieth, 1827, in Milo, Gates County, IST. Y. 
His parents gave him common-school opportunities, 
which he improved till he was fifteen years old. Tlien 
he learned the harness trade, and made that his busi- 
ness. On the twenty-fifth of December, 1851, he wns 
married to Miss Sarah A. Newkirk, of Avoca, N. Y., 
at which place he had established his business in 1846. 
Enhsting August twenty-second, 1864, and being made 
Second Lieutenant, he went to the field, but disability 
interrupted considerably his duties with his Company. 

Mon-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial,— Co. G. 

Sergeants : Elbert E. Kimball, (Orderly ;) George H. 
Granger, Charles E. Hall, Josiah Guiwits, Cyrus H. 
Stone. 

Corporals : Alfred M. Hess, Amenzo L. Deyo, (en- 
tered the Drum Corps ;) John W. Johnson, Frank N. 
Barney, More C. White, Edwin H^ Wetmore, Jerrons 
S. Fowler, Ira L. Goff. 

Privates: Lorenzo Alden, Austin H, Bacon, (died in 
hospital ;) Adison Brasted, Joel Beagle, Henry E. But- 
ler, Seth D. Briggs, (promoted corporal ;) Jacob Bellin- 
ger, Solomon J. Conute, George Curtis, Abner Cavy, 
Frank Carpenter, Simeon D. Carpenter, Chris. Conrad, 
(died in hospital;) John H. Covill, Luther Cleland, Al- 
bert L. Corry, L-a W. Chase, Horace Dean, Nelson H. 
Demerest, Asa Demerandville, A. I. N. Duel, (desert- 
ed ;) Jacob Eckerman, Willard L. French, L^ither L. 
Ferris, Robert C. Gurnsy, George ^Y. Gunsolus, John E. 



56 189th new-yoek volutn^teees. 

Griswould, (Bugler ;) Laertus Goff, (Drummer ;) Wil- 
liam B. Golden, George M. Hewitt, Jr., Leonard Ilart- 
er, Edgar S. Haight, (died in hospital ;) Peter Hoffman, 
Alanson Hooper, Rensler Hooper, (died in hospital ;) 
James Harris, Charles F. Plassell, James Henshaw, Hor- 
ace Hammond, David Harrington, Bishop Harrington, 
Amizey Harris, Philip Hunt, Oscar Johnson, Henry 
Jones, Joseph Jenks, Luther M. Kimball, (died in Elmi- 
ra ;) Jerome Kingsley, John McDaniels, Wesley Martin, 
Anson L. March, Samuel Oeds, Warren W. Oxx, Silsbe 
Peck, Jerry A. Palmateer, Thaddeus W. Petrie, Luke 
Parshall, (died in hospital ;) Elmer Peterson, Lorenzo 
Roberts, Vincent L. Reynolds, John S. Randolph, Wil- 
liam Randolph, Rila Rasy, Franklin Randall, Bolster 
Sourbier, Walter C. Slayton, Hugh Smith, Michael K. 
Smith, (died in hospital;) Robert Swart, Jasper E. 
Seeley, Jeremiah Shaver, Thomas Sherwood, Oliver R. 
Towner, Henry Tuttle, Seth S. Tubbs, (died in hospi- ' 
tal ;) Joel H. Towner, Joseph Tucker, Oscar Tucker, 
(supposed to have died in Farmville Hospital ;) Bradley 
Tobias, William B. Tobias, Luke H. Voorhees, Fayette 
M. Van Wormur, (died at home ;) Haskell Wilkinson, 
(discharged for accidental wound ;) Henry M. Whea- 
ton, (died in hospital ;) George W. Williamson, Jacob 
Waggoner, Andrew J. Wood, Ransom Woodmansee, 
John Warring, William Zugenfuss. 

Company H. 

In the fall of 1864, after Captains Burrage, Rice, and 
John Stocum had each raised a company of men, the 
quota of the town of Bath not yet being full for the call 
of five Jiundred thousand, Hon. D. B. Bryan, of Sono- 
ra, John T. Allen, and others of Bath, proposed to Su- 



189th NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 67 

pervisor John L. Smith, tbat authority be obtained for 
Professor N. Crosby to recruit a company of infantry. 
The Professor, for five years connected with the So- 
nora Academy, was designated by his influence, espe- 
cially with the best classes of the youth, as the proper 
leader of another recruiting campaign. Duly author- 
ized from Albany, and assisted by Lieutenants H. F. 
Scofield and L. G. Rutherford, and Sergeants D. Cros- 
by, R. McCann, and S. P. Teachman, he succeeded so 
well .that in five days were mustered at Elmira, on the 
fourteenth of September, over seventy men for this 
Company, who thereupon received furloughs home, 
until the twenty-sixth. Punctually they returned, 
and enough others came to fill the Company's comple- 
ment, and about a hundred besides. Captain N". Cros- 
by and his Lieutenants were mustered on the nineteenth, 
and gallant Company II awaited in Barracks No. 1, at 
Elmira, orders to move to the front. 

Captain Nathan Crosby was born in the year 1833. 
Working on the farm till his twentieth year, he attend- 
ed school scarcely any during that most important edu- 
cational portion of life. Thereupon he determined to 
seek that culture of manhood and character which a 
college course is so wisely designed to give to all who 
faithfully pursue its steep but favored way. Accord- 
ingly, he commencing by study to prepare himself, and 
by teachmg winters to accumulate means. In the fall of 
1858, he entered the Sophomore Class of Michigan Uni- 
versity. He was converted at Olivet Institute, Michi- 
gan, in 1857, and joined the Baptist Church, and has 
since been a true man and Christian laborer. Having 
completed that collegiate year of study, he became 
3* 



58 180TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

assistant teacher in Sonora Academy, which position he 
occupied, keeping up with his class in the University at 
the same time, till he graduated there in 1862. The 
fall following, he was made Principal of Sonora Acade- 
my, where he labored with distinguished success two 
years more. Commencing the study of law, April, 
1864, with David Ramsey, Esq., of Bath, he prosecuted 
the preparations for his chosen vocation — the legal pro- 
fession — ^till the next September, when, by the urgent 
request of friends, he engaged in recruiting a compa- 
ny, was chosen their Captain, and served with them 
conscientiously and nobly, mi til compelled by severe and 
dangerous illness to seek, in the quiet and healthful 
climate of home, that restoration of his vigor and health 
which was despaired of amid the privations and expos- 
ure of army life in the South. 

First Lieutenant Hiram F. Scofield is in the prime 
of life. In August, 1862, he joined Captain Biles's Com- 
pany, then organizing for the One Hundred and Sixty- 
first Regiment, as a private, and was at once promoted 
to the position of Sergeant. Upon the organization of 
several regiments of colored troops at New-Orleans, 
Sergeant Scofield was made a Second Lieutenant of 
one of the companies, his soldierly abilities and prompt- 
ness indicating him as well worthy of the promotion. 
He held this position until, with many other officers, he 
was mustered out by process of consolidation, some 
time in the fall of 1863, and returned home. He re- 
mained but a short time, however, being called unani- 
mously to the position of First Lieutenant of Company 
H, One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth Regiment. Lieu- 
tenant Scofield was Acting Quartermaster of the Regi- 



189TH NEW- YORK VOLUNTEERS. 59 

nient for some time after its organization, and dis- 
charged the duties of tlie office with signal abiUty and 
success. He was one of the most active and efficient 
officers of the regiment, and was a general favorite on 
account of his bravery and soldierly bearing. 

Second Lieutenant L. G. Rutherford was born in 
Bath, IST. Y., January second, 1840. From his child- 
hood he had good school opportunities, and always 
learned easily ; but the skates, fish-hooks, and the old 
gun that hung in the kitchen had for him far greater 
charms than books. At sixteen years of age he was 
sent by his parents to the Prattsburgh and Sonora Aca- 
demy. Afterward, at the age of twenty-one, begin- 
ning the study of law with C. F. Ringsley, Esq., of 
Bath, he made good progress therein. When about to 
be admitted to practice at the New- York bar, he vol- 
unteered for three years in the Seventy-eighth New- 
York Volunteers, under the President's first call for 
three hundred thousand troops. Conspicuous for sol- 
dierly merit, he served in the Shenandoah Valley under 
Generals Sigel and Banks, with great favor among his 
comrades and officers, until an attack of the typhoid fe- 
ver, and afterward of inflamation on the limgs, reduced 
him by a long illness to the very gate of death, whence 
happily recovering, he reached home, yet more to suf- 
fer from chronic diarrhea for ten months longer. Hav- 
ing regained his health sufficiently, he reenlisted in the 
fall of 1864, and with great enthusiasm bent his atten- 
tion to recruiting men, and w^as made Second Lieute- 
nant by the unanimous voice of his Company. He was 
a brave and reliable officer in all the vicissitudes of the 
service. 



60 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEEKS. 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Memorial.— Co. H. 

Sergeants : David Crosby, (Orderly ;) Rev. O. J. 
Moon, Robert McCann, Isaac P. Teachman, Amasa M. 
Gleason. 

Corporals: M. J. Moss, (Died in hospital;) D. 11. 
Green, Samuel Gi'een, Alexander Ilolley, James Ke- 
nety, (died in Division Hospital ;) Thomas AYalling, 
W. A. Waldo, M. J. Crookston. 

Privates : W. Austin, (deserted ;) G. Beaton, J. Bon- 
nell, O. Billington, ^Y. Brush, D. Burch, C. Butts, H. 
Colgrove, (promoted Corporal ;) H. Calhoun, D. Church- 
ill, L. Clark, W. Covert, G. Cole, C. Crane, F. Craus, 
S. Coats, W. Crawford, (deserted ;) A. Dennis, Moses 
Davison, J. Dunn, J. Dunlap, S. Dunton, P. Evland, 
(died in Division Hospital ;) C. Emery, H. Genung, J. 
Gleason, J. Gray, W. H. Grey, W. Goodsell, P. 
Grimes, D. Gregory, W. Higgings, N. Hill, A. Hollett, 

E. Husted, H. Haight, A. E. Johnson, H. Forman, 
(promoted Corporal ;) H. Foster, W. Griffith, R. Lyons, 

F. Manning, "\Y. McComber, G. McCabe, H. McCabe, 
D. C. Mills, B. Moss, R. Morrow, N. Morse, ^Y. Or- 
cutt, O. Pyatt, (died at home ;) J. Putnam, E. L. Rent, 
R. Reid, F. Sanford, D. Scofield, W. Scott, (deserted 
in Elmira ;) O. Sawyer, S. Shoemaker, R. Seager, B. 
Simeson, C. H. Smith, A. 1^. Smith, J. Spencer, J. 
Spiers, (promoted Corporal ;) W. Spicer, MV. Stewart, 
T. Stilts, (promoted Corporal ;) I. JST. Storm, W. Tay- 
lor, I. B. TrumbeU, J. A. Tayler, N. Thomas, G. W. 
Velie, (died in hospital ;) S. Yau Buren, C. Wells, AY. 
TYithey, T. WiUiams, D. C. Whitacer, E. A. Washburn, 
A. Willett, J. R. Wyckoff, H. WiUover, A. S. Yeo- 
mans. 



189Tn NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEEES. 61 

Company I 

was raised principally from Allegany County, by the 
patriotic devotion and honorable enterprise of Messrs. 
Elias Horton, Lewis II. Ackerman, and Leonard Briggs. 
Of course, the Town Supervisors and others interested 
lent their assistance, but the three just named are most 
praiseworthy for their self-sacrificing zeal for the good 
of the cause. Indeed, some towns, such as Willing and 
Independence, would probably not have escape! the 
draft had not their quotas been filled by volunteers for 
Company I, Let the generous fellow-citizens, not only 
of these officers, but of all those who throughout the 
land stepped forward at the right time and devoted 
themselves to the public service, see to it that those 
who have returned from the deadly conflict, receive a 
just, ay, generous reward. They bear the marks— let 
them hereafter also have the deserved honors of their 
hard service. Organized and mustered at Elmira into 
the United States service, as an independent company, 
it afterward joined the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth, 
with Professor Elias Horton, Captain ; Lew^is H. Acker- 
man, Esq., First Lieutenant; and Mr. Leonard Briggs, 
Second Lieutenant. Few companies show a better re- 
cord than this. 

Captain Elias Horton was born August twentieth, 
1836, at Spring Mills, Allegany County, N. Y. Liv- 
ing with his parents till he was twenty-one, he enjoyed 
opportunities for an excellent education, not only at the 
first-elass common-school, but also at Spring Mills Select 
School, subsequently Spring Mills Academy, Rev. Wil- 
liam II. Rogers, A.M., Principal, which it was then the 



62 189TII NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

pride and honor of the enterprising New-England in- 
habitants of his native village to maintain. Having gra- 
duated at Poughkeepsie Commercial College, he went to 
Kansas in the spring of 1857, but attacked by the ague 
and fever, he returned in the fall of 1858. On the six- 
teenth day of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in 
the One Hundred and Thirtieth IS^ew-York Volunteers, 
and was promoted Second Lieutenant of his Company 
at its organization. While his regiment was at Sujffolk, 
Virginia, he was taken sick with typhoid fever, and con- 
fined to the hospital three months. Recovering suffi- 
ciently, he resigned and returned home. May six- 
teenth, 1863, he was married to Miss Ada M. Walker, 
of Wellsville, Allegany County, K. Y., and his wife, a 
graduate of Alfred University, assisted him in the in- 
struction of Spring Mills Academy, of wdiich he had 
previously been elected Principal. They continued in 
this important position till the spring of 1864. On the 
twenty-second day of August, receiving authority from 
Governor Seymour to organize a company of infantry, 
he engaged in recruiting the men. By the thirtieth of 
September, with the maximum number of troops for a 
company, he was mustered as their Captain. Never 
absent from his post, he was an officer of decided abi- 
lity and popularity. From boyhood leading a moral 
life, he was converted at the age of twenty-four, and 
has since maintained his Christian faith and character. 

First Lieutenant Lewis H. Ackerman received a 
good education at the common, select, and academic 
schools within his reach. He was always characterized 
by energy and enterprise. Moving West in 1860, he 
engaged in teaching. Prospering successfully as an in- 



189TII NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 63 

strnctor, he was, however, one of the first to enlist 
when the war broke out. Going immediately into act- 
ive service with an Indiana cavalry regiment, he was 
made First Lieutenant. At the battle of Pittsburgh 
Landing, his Captain was disabled, and Lieutenant Ack- 
erman assumed command. This was the place for his 
abilities to find exercise, and he won an enviable repu- 
tation for gallant military ability. But his arduous ex- 
ertions and constant exposures prostrated his health and 
forced him to turn his face homeward, just as well-earned 
l^romotion was about rewarding his valor and worth. 
He recovered, after a protracted and dangerous sickness, 
sufficiently to do his full share of recruiting for Compa- 
ny I, One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New- York Vol- 
unteers. To him much is due, for unswerving fidelity 
in service. He drilled and everywhere conducted with 
true military promptness and exactitude. One incident 
fitly illustrates his soldierly life. Just after the battle 
of Lewis's Farm was over, and our forces were establish- 
ing their lines of defense. General Gregory called for a 
volunteer commissioned officer and twenty men to 
drive the rebel sharp-shooters from an old house which 
stood between our lines and those of the enemy. Lieu- 
tenant Ackerman stepped forward, saying : " I'll go, 
with twenty volunteers from my company. " They 
went. The anoying rebels were dispersed, but volley 
after volley was showered upon Company I's little he- 
roic band. They fought like tigers, but soon the Lieu- 
tenant discovered a strong force of rebels deploying to 
capture them, and retreated without the loss of a man. 

Second Lieutenant Leonard Briggs acquired a com- 
mon-school education at his native place, Spring Mills, 



04 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEEBS. 

Allegany County, IST. Y. He was born August twen- 
ty-fourth, 1833. His parents were farmers. In the 
lumber forest of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, he 
worked for a time, at twenty-one years of age, after 
which he emigrated to California. But few Have ex- 
perienced more of genuine pioneer life than he. Min- 
ing and lumbering was his business. On one occasion, 
he helped capture and hang two Indians, for the murder 
of two Chinamen who were mining in his neighbor- 
hood. In the spring of 1855, he was chased by a griz- 
zly bear, from which he barely escaped by climbing a 
tree and remaining in its top over night, the ferocious 
animal meanwhile prowling and gnawing at the roots 
of the tree. On the organization of the California Vi- 
gilance Committee in the spring of 1856, he was elect- 
ed a member, and assisted in purging the State of 
thieves, cut-throats, gamblers, and robbers. 

He was at Panama during the summer of 1856, at 
the time of the great riot by the natives upon the Tran- 
sit passengers, whom they robbed of every thing valua- 
ble ; sixty men, women, and children being killed and 
wounded. Having traveled through most of the West- 
ern States, Mexico, and Island of Cuba, he enlisted in 
the United States service in August, 1861, and served 
with the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, with dis- 
tinguished valor, for two years. Having assisted to. 
raise Company I, One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New- 
York, he was elected Second Lieutenant, and served 
faithfully till severely wounded in the right leg, below 
the knee, March twenty-fourth, 1864. Recovering from 
this wound, after much suifering, he was discharged 
some time after his regiment, having deserved, in all his 
services, well of his country. , 



189TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 65 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' iVlemoriai.— Co. I. 

Sergeants: Merrit Hall, (Orderly;) Elisha Acker- 
man, (died while on furlough home ;) Charles J. Ro- 
gers, (Regimental Mail Agent ;) Charles Palmer, John 
Chase. 

Corporals: Delos Leonard, (promoted Sergeant;) 
ISToice Snyder, (promoted Sergeant ;) Asa Graves, Jo- 
siah Rogers, Clinton D. Stillman, (died in hospital;) 
Francis Krusen, Austin A. Swetland, Horace Jones, 
(Drummer;) Lester Stone, (promoted Drum Major;) 
Fifer, Edgar King. 

Privates : Addison Atwater, Wesley Brundage, (died 
in hospital ;) George D. Brundage, Sylvester Bell, Ed- 
win W. Bishop, Sylvester Bartlett, James Bentley, 
Morgan Baker, Solomon Baker, Charles Barnes, Fre- 
derick Burman, Edward C. Brink, Francis M. Chase, 
James L. Chase, Oliver H. P. Campbell, (died in hospi- 
tal;) John Dunham, William H. Donehi, John Daniels, 
Gershon Darling, Jesse W. Evans, Charles A. Elhott, 
Ambros D. Erway, David Finch, John' Feller, Seth 
Graves, William R. Green, William A. Guinop, (died 
in hospital;) Peter M. Gostley, Thaddeus Holliday, 
Charles Horn, (promoted Corporal ;) Heartwich Hears, 
Henry Hears, Hiram P. Hewett, Alva L. Horton, 
James W. Hoard, Michael Helmer, Dr. J. G. Horton, 
Newton W. Hubbard, Joseph B. Johnson, Vine John- 
son, Cassius M. Keiser, (died in hospital ;) Thomas A. 
Kibble, Alonzo A. Lee, Alexander Leyttle, Jesse Mat- 
teson, Philetus G. Mayhew, James D. McKee, Wash- 
ington Norton, Henry Outman, William W. Plants, 
Frank M. Rogers, Ethan A. Rogers, Nelson Reynolds, 
Henry Reynolds, Albert Robbins, John Root, Samuel 



66 189TH NEW-.YOEK YOLUNTEERS. 

Rolfe, (promoted Corporal;) Sylvester Stephens, (pro- 
moted Corporal;) Cassius M. C. Stephens, Lee Ste- 
phens, Horace N. Stone, (promoted Corporal;) Mmn- 
ford R. Swetland, Morace Snyder, William Statham, 
Anthony Shaw, (died in camp ;) Jeremiah Shultz, (died 
in hospital ;) Chester Stone, Royal Segar, Warren Se- 
gar, Frederick Spear, Marnard Teribury, Asa G. Wheat? 
W. D. Whitaker, E. Way, Leonard Simmons, William 
H. Reynolds. 

Company K 

was from the towns of Florence, Camden, Boonville, 
Ava, Westmoreland, Verona, and Rome. Amos Soper, 
Esq., of Camden, long a prominent and efficient officer 
in the State miUtia, and Thomas Barrel, Esq., of West- 
moreland, commenced the enterprise of organizing it in 
Utica, September first, 1864, and with some other assist- 
ance, by the twenty-third of that month, had an entire 
company mustered at Elmira, with Mr. Amos Soper as 
Captain, Mr. Thomas Barrel, First Lieutenant, and 

* Second Lieutenant. This excellent company 

was originally designed for the Engineer Corps, but that 
being full, they were ordered to report to Colonel Boyd, 
Fourteenth Veteran Reserve, under whom they did 
duty two months. Ordered to duty with the Eighty- 
eighth New-York, they served with it in Fort Com- 
mings till the return of the expedition from the Wel- 
don Railroad raid, and on the sixteenth of December 
joined the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New-York, 
then commencing their winter quarters before Peters- 
burgh. 

* The name of this ofiiccr is omitted by his own request. 



189TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 67 

Captain Amos Sopep was born April thirteenth, 1813, 
ht Camden, Oneida County, N. Y. Left fatherless a 
week before his birth, he, the youngest of three child- 
ren, lived with his mother till his fifth year. There- 
upon adopted by his uncle, farming summers, going to 
school some winters, he gained a then common-school 
education, it being deemed useless at that day and loca- 
lity to study grammar, or arithmetic further than the 
Rale of Three. Subsequently he studied nearly a year 
at a select-school, wisely adding to his store of know- 
ledge. At seventeen years of age, commencing the 
furniture business and cabinet-making at his native 
place, he afterward continued them in Boston, where 
he was married, in 1841, to Miss Mary A. Dodge, of 
that place. Removing to Camden again in 1851, he 
prosecuted his trade till he entered the army. Having 
been Adjutant of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth 
New- York State Militia four years, in 1841 he was made 
Major. The colonelcy was afterward oifered him, which 
he declined. A conscientious man and cordial officer, 
he is deserving of great credit. 

First Lieutenant Thomas Burrel was the son of Eng- 
lish parents, who immigrated to America and settled 
in Westmoreland, Oneida County, N". Y., when he was 
quite young. Born December eleventh, 1838, he lived 
with his parents till his sixteenth year of age. He 
went as far as the farthest in the erudition of the com- 
mon-schools. Although accustomed from boyhood to 
farm-work with his father, he imbibed at the age of 
fourteen a liking to cigar-making. This became his 
business, until he donned the insignia of the Union sol- 
dier, April, 1861, and took his place in Company E, 



68 189TH NEW-YORK VOLTTNTEEES. 

Fourteenth ISTew-York Volunteers, Second Brigade, 
First Division, Fifth Array Corps. He was under Gen- 
erals Porter and Meade through the Peninsular cam- 
paign, from the siege of Yorktown to the battle of 
Chaucellorsville. Two years — the term of his enlist- 
ment — having e;i:pired, he came home and pursued his 
former trade up to the time of the popular response to 
the Government's last call for soldiers. Then again he 
went forth to assist in preserving the Republic founded 
by our fathers. N^ever was a neater presentation made 
than by the members of his company to him, as their 
worthy and loved First Lieutenant, unostentatiously 
placing in his hands, as they were parting with him at 
Elmira, a gold watch of great beauty, valued at one 
hundred and sixty dollars. 

Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' iVIemorial.— Co. K. 

Sergeants : Orderly, Dennis Whitford, Josiah Cush- 
man, Adolphus J. Neff, James D. Spencer, Ira B. 
Griffin. 

Corporals : Alfred Kinne, George H. Peckham, Hen- 
ry A. Read, William N. Mott, Theodore Anson, An- 
drew H. Richardson, (died in hospital ;) Charles Still, 
Eli Spencer. 

Musicians; Abram W. Robison, Charles Wagoner. 

Privates : James L. Armstrong, (wounded at Hat- 
cher's Run;) Jason Anson, Joseph Brown, Thomas 
Brown, (promoted Sergeant ;) Morgan O. Boardwell, 
Solomon A. Briggs, Leonard Belknap, Frank J. Bailey, 
Stewart Comins, (killed at Hatcher's Run ;) Daniel 
Comins, Phineas H. Castle, Philip Cain, Adelbert Chase, 
Frederick Casler, George Derick, Alexander Dunham, 
(wounded at Hatcher's Run ;) John Davis, Asa Dillen- 



189th NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 69 

beck, Milton Dillenbeck, Albert Dibble, George Evans, 
Lewis Ernst, James II. Freeman, Menzo Fox, Edward 
E. Fitch, Joseph S. Grey, (died in camp ;) Eugene Gor- 
donier, (wounded at Hatcher's Rim;) James Graham, 
Ira Grinnel, Charles E. Higby, William B. M. Hill, 
James B. Holmes, Seyley Holenbeck, Thomas Hay- 
dock, J. ]^^. Hull, Luke Jones, (wounded at Hatcher's 
Run;) Tallman Jordan, Homer C. Kimball, Richard 
Kelley, Philip G. Kilmer, John Kilburn, William Lehr, 
Charles M. Letts, Hiram Landers, John Millis, Jr., Mor- 
ris McGraw, (promoted Corporal ;) Hiram McOmber, 
Philip Mackin, Ezra B. Murry, Smith McMullen, (died 
in hospital ;) George W. Outman, John II. Olley, Tho- 
mas Oniel, Joseph Philpot, Franklin Parckhurst, Lewis 
Putnam, (wounded at Hatcher's Run ; Charles E. Piatt, 
Alexander Ferine, Richard Padgham, (killed at Hat- 
cher's Run ;) William H. Roberts, William Rowland, 
William W. Raymond, George Raymond, Henry Sa- 
senbury, (died in hospital;) Henry Sasenbury, Jr., 
Augustus Sypher, (wounded at Hatcher's Run ;) Giles 
Spencer, (died in hospital ;) John Sadler, Sanford Sher- 
man, Nathan Sweatman, (died in hospital;) Seymour 
Smith, John Spavin, John Still, Emmett Tucker, Robert 
Talcott, Hezekiah Wright, Elon A. Wheelock, James 
Warner, Carlos York. 



PART SECOND. 



SERVICES OF THE KEGIMENT. 



CHAPTER I. 

AWAY TO THE TEONT. 

When in September, 1864, it became necessary to 
forward soldiers rapidly, in transitu^ to keep room at 
Elmira for the in-coming recruits, four companies 
pledged for the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth, Be- 
man's, Washburn's, Hill's, and Pond's, were sent to 
City Point, via Baltimore, before the regimental or- 
ganization was completed. They found their passage, 
though on many accounts very uncomfortable, decided- 
ly an improvement upon life in the rendezvous barracks 
at Elmira among bounty-jumpers and pickpockets. 
The scenery along the Susquehanna was charming. 
Farm-lands, crowned with ripened crops, and woods 
golden-hued with autumnal foliage, stretched away to 
the horizon on either side. Along our route good ver- 
nacular cheers for "Honest Old Abe" and the brave 
soldiers, and a few foreign hurrahs for "Little Mac," 
foreshadowed the way the Presidential election was 
going the approaching November. Amid the pano- 



189th new-yokk tolunteers. 11 

r.iraic throng of ever-changing scenes, new and old, 
pacific and warlike, through which we passed, a power- 
ful fleet anchored at Fortress Monroe attracted unusual 
attention, while the huge guns of the Fortress com- 
manded obedience from all who plied the surrounding 
waters, and the dreadful Rip Raps frowned on the dis- 
tant sky, keeping up their august vigils. Arriving at 
City Point, Captain Pond, breaking faith with the One 
Hundred and Eighty-Ninth, joined the Engineer Corps, 
and the other three companies, encamping in a place 
designated near the wharf and the depot of the Uni- 
ted States Mail Railroad, engaged in doing guard, fa- 
tigue, and drilling duty, under General Patrick. 

Sabbath, October twenty-third, the welcome church 
call was sounded, and religious services were held in our 
camp within the inclosures of a redoubt and its maga- 
zine; preaching by the chaplain from Luke 18 : 1 : " Men 
ought always to pray and not to faint." On the follow- 
ing morning, the remaining six companies arrived from 
Washington. There they had been drilling three Aveeks, 
boarding at the Soldiers' Rest. Pitching their tents 
by the deep railroad cut, on the opposite side from the 
three companies' quarters, they joined in their duties, 
and the whole regiment, except one company, were on 
drill and dress-parade together, as often as practicable. 

After breakfast, the twenty-eighth, Colonel Hayt 
announced our order to move up towards Petersburgh, 
two and a half miles. Packing up, we soon moved off 
on our first march. The rain of the previous night 
having laid the dust, the movement was performed in 
the best of spirits, and on a slight elevation of ground 
we again erected our tents. Assisting to build some 
earth-works and a fort connected with the inner line oi 



72 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEEES. 

the defenses of City Point four days, worshiping the in- 
tervening Sabbath under an oak tree beside the camp, 
on the first of November we returned to the depot at 
City Point, and took the cars at ten o'clock a.m., Colo- 
nel Hayt having been ordered to report with his regi- 
ment to General Warren, Commander of the Fifth 
Corps. Seated and standing, promiscuously, in and on 
a train loaded with army supplies, we were hurried 
away to Warren Station, fifteen miles from City Point. 
On a new uneven track laid over its ungraded course, 
with our corresponding ups and downs, we "marched" 
through plantations and woodlands, parks of army 
trains and camps of soldiery, while here and there stood 
a fine mansion, its chimneys outside and negro huts sur- 
rounding, now the headquarters of somebody, but for- 
merly, ere God arose to destroy rebellious slavery, the 
quiet home of happiness and plenty possessed by one 
of the slaveholding " F. F. V.'s. " Twelve miles' ride 
brought us in sight of Petersburgh. The spires of this 
rebel stronghold became the centre of a circle whose 
arc the course we were pursuing described with a ra- 
dius of about three miles. Arriving at Warren Sta- 
tion, then the terminus of the railroad, we were con- 
nected with the body of the Potomac Army, (General 
Meade,) Second Brigade, (Brigadier E. M. Gregory,) 
First Division, (General Griftin,) Fifth Army Corps, 
and marching onward two miles farther, hastily bivou- 
acked in the dark for the night. Early after breakfast 
next morning, filing out into a small open field, the re- 
giment formed in column, which was no sooner done 
than General Gregory and staff came dashing along 
the line, and ordering Colonel Ilayt to follow, led the 
way back to a fine locality for a camp, near Warren's 



189TH NEW-TORK VOLUNTEERS. IS 

Station, where he had determined to rendezvous hig 
brigade. Brigadier General Edgar M. Gregory's char- 
acter is symmetrical. A perfect mihtary officer, a true 
gentleman, and an exemplary Christian, the One Hun- 
dred and Eighty-Ninth were fortunate in being thus fa- 
vorably brigaded. The regiment being located in its 
place of encampment, all began preparations, in a rain 
which had continued the entire day, for as comfortable 
supper and lodgings as possible. 

The following few days were mainly spent in build- 
ing tents, policing streets, and fitting up the camp in 
comfortable military style. On the fifth. Colonel Hayt 
went down to City Point on business, and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Burr being placed in command of the brigade 
instead of Brigadier Gregory, on leave of absence, 
Captain Stocum meanwhile had command of the regi- 
ment. Details for building railroad, corduroy roads, 
and other fatigue duties, were daily made from the re- 
giment, but its principal employment was drilling in the 
various tactical lessons of the soldier, company, and bat- 
talion schools and the evolntions of a, brigade. Here 
one of the most sorrowful and disastrous events of our 
-experience occurred. Of it, the following is the official 
account : 

" The painful tidings of the sudden death of Colonel 
William W. Hayt, at eight o'clock a.m., November 
eighth, 1864, at City Point, Virginia, of congestion of 
the brain, having reached his command at its camp, 
near Warren Station, Virginia, the commissioned offi- 
cers of the regiment were convened by order of Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Allen L. Burr. After mutual consulta- 
tion, by request, the commanding officer appointed 
Captain Burrage Rice, Chaplain William H. Rogers, 
and Captain William H. Withey a Committee to drafc 
4 



74 189TH NETT-YORK: VOLUNTEERS. 

resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the regi- 
ment. The Committee reported the following pream- 
ble and resolutions, which were unanimously approved : 

" WTiereas, It haspleased Almighty God, in his all-wise 
providence, to remove suddenly by death, our highly 
esteemed commanding officer, Colonel William W. 
Hayt; therefore, 

" Resolved^ That in his death the One Hundred and 
Eighty-Ninth Regiment of New- York Volunteers has 
suffered a great loss, which is deeply felt by all its offi- 
cers and privates, and the country has been deprived of 
a faithful friend and an ardent supporter. 

" Resolved^ That as an officer and soldier, by his noble 
conduct, trueness of. heart, out-spoken frankness, and 
many virtues of a superior character, he has endeared 
himself, during his brief connection with this regiment, 
to all our hearts, and won the genuine confidence and 
cordial esteem of all his men. 

" Resolved., That we tender our sincere sympathy to 
his deeply afflicted wife, children, and large circle of re- 
latives, and earnestly pray God to sustain them under 
the weighty sorrows of this great bereavement. 

" Resolved., That while we regret the military condi- 
tion will not permit a larger escort, Captain William 
Washburn, who attended the Colonel duiing his short, 
fatal sickness, and Rev. William H. Rogers, Chaplain 
of this regiment, be appointed a deputation to accom- 
pany the body home and to attend the funeral. 

*' Resolved., That a copy of these proceedings be sent 
to the family of the deceased, and to the various papers 
interested, for publication. 

" BuREAGE Rice, 
William H. Rogers, \ Committee,''^ 
William II. Withey, 



189TH NEW-TORK VOLUNTEERS. 'JB 

Becoming acclimated was one of the most dangerous 
ordeals of the service. Here in camp we suffered its 
effects ; yet the efficiency of our medical department 
was so thorough, that we passed through it with com- 
paratively little mortality. Yet many, ay, too many, 
brave boys sickened amid the daily routine of camp 
life, and were carried in ambulances away to the hospi- 
tal, never again to re-cross the beat of the camp-guard, 
nor to re-visit the loved threshold of home. The heart 
here became sober and reflective. Between the fondly 
cherished memories of home and friends whose endear- 
ments must so long be sacrificed, and the certain pros- 
pect of deadly dangers to be faced, the soldiers' minds 
more easily responded to the threefold ministry of the 
Holy Spirit, a faithful chaplaincy, and the Christian 
Commission. Many there happily received pardon, and 
obtained a title and preparation for heaven, where 
separations, death and war are forever unknown. A 
request signed by all the commissioned officers of the 
regiment to commission Lieutenant-Colonel Burr as 
Colonel, vice Colonel W. W. Hayt, deceased, was for- 
warded to Governor Seymour. 

The golden bonds which link the heart to home 
never any more revealed their power than when all the 
soldiers in camp, officers and privates, were placed on 
the qui vive of excitement by the blowing of the bri- 
gade bugle to call the regimental mail agents to come 
and get their mail. Our mail agent was Charles Ro- 
gers, the brother and tent-mate of the Chaplain, and, 
the questions, " Chaplain, has Charley come with the 
mail yet?" "Have you a letter for me this time?" 
etc., etc., were asked again and again from the sound- 
ing of the mail-call till the distribution of the mail 



76 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

eacli clay, when the mail was regular. The arrival of 
boxes from home were also great occasions in camp. 
Our first installment of these was received on the six- 
teenth of November. 

Pursuant to the proclamation of the President ap- 
pointing a day of National Thanksgiving, at eleven 
o'clock, Thursday, November twenty-fourth, our com- 
mand, with arms, marched to Brigade Headquarters, 
there to join with the other two regiments of the Bri- 
gade in the observance of thanksgiving, by recom- 
mend of General Gregory. 

When the Brigade was formed, the following w^as 
the order of religious exercises : First, Reading the 
thanksgiving proclamation ; second, music, " My Coun- 
try, 'lis of thee;'' third, reading the ninth Psalm; 
fourth, prayer, by Rev. Wayne Spicer, Chaplain of the 
One Hundred and Eighty-eighth ; fifth, music, " In a 
Noble Cause contending;" sixth, preaching from Rev. 
19 : 6 ; seventh, music, " Sail on, thou Mighty Ship of 
State;" eighth, remarks by General Gregory, Rev. O. 
J. Moore, Sergeant Company G, One Hundred and 
Eighty-Ninth, and others ; ninth, Doxology and Bene- 
diction. 

Thereupon the regiments returned to their camps, 
feeling that of all the abundant occasions for thanks- 
giving that American citizens possessed, the certain in- 
dications of speedy triumph for our cause, the collapse 
of that of the rebels, the end of the war, and the har- 
bingers of the sure return of peace, were preeminent. 
On the twenty-sixth of November, when we were 
about concluding that the great newspaper ado con- 
cerning a " Thanksgiving Dinner for the Soldiers " was 
" all talk and no turkey," to our great joy, a supply 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEEKS. '77 

wagon appeared in camp with les materiels for the din- 
n-er. Justice, however, demands this warning concern- 
ing the transportation of such palatable supplies through 
so many hungry hands and headquarters, that due pre- 
caution be taken to secure them from the self appro- 
priating tendency of excited gastronomic attraction, 
from which the quantity of our excellent dinner had 
somewhere suffered a sad diminution. The following 
is the "authorized version" of how our presents were 
received and disposed of 

Petersburgh, Va., November 2Y, 1864. 
The baked poultry and other food for our Thanks- 
giving Dinner arrived in the camp of our regiment on 
the twenty-sixth instant, in a splendid condition. ^ The 
quarters of the non-commissioned officers and privates 
were gladdened by their dinner at noon, but the com- 
missioned officers having purchased some additional 
supplies had their banquet served at seven o'clock p.m. 
After the feast, on motion of Colonel A. L. Burr, 
Chaplain William H. Rogers, Captain John Stocura, 
and Surgeon Howard E. Gates were appointed a Com- 
mittee to express our sentiments of pleasure and grati- 
tude to our kind and thoughtful friends of the Empire 
State who contributed these Thanksgiving Gifts. Tho 
following was reported to-day at dress-parade, and ap- 
proved : 

Besolved, That we hereby express our cordial thanks 
to every one of our friends at home who have, with 
such bountiful liberality, contributed to our Thanks- 
giving Dinner, whose quantity we value not so much for 
w^hat it was worth as for what it betokened. 

Besolved, That these fresh tokens of love from our 



^8 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

noble fellow-citizens, while they created a sense of pre- 
sent pleasure, being such a startling change from our 
customary diet, have renewed in all our minds sweet 
memories of home, and re-nerved our souls to do and 
dare for the defense and maintenance of that glorious 
Government the affectionate honor of whose citizens 
is thus manifested to their defenders. 

Resolved, That these statements be forwarded for 
publication. 

William H. Rogees, > 

John Stocum, t Committee, 

H. E. Gates, ) 

Animated by a desire to make our condition as neat 
and sanitary as possible, we were arching our streets 
and decorating them and our tents with various devices 
of evergreens, and our thriving little canvas-roofed log- 
city began to seem quite home-like when rumors began 
to be rife that the Fifth Corps was about to move, and 
the movements of the Second and Ninth Corps ex- 
changing places with each other was interpreted as 
confirming the report. 



CHAPTER SECOND, 

THE WELDON RAILROAD RAID. 

Tuesday, December sixth.— The whole of the Fifth 
and a part of the Second Corps, preceded by Gregg's 
Cavalry and accompanied by a good supply of artillery, 
were in motion at nine o'clock this morning, starting 
for an expedition. Our regiment having six days' ra- 
tions, with every thing in marching order, " fell into" 
its designated place in the vast column, bidding adieu 
to our roofless houses, camp and whatever property we 
were compelled to leave, for the accommodation of 
other troops who soon entered and took possession. 
We marched about four miles and massed on the Jeru- 
salem Plank-Road, three miles from Warren Station, 
Half of Company E went out on picket and the rest of 
the One Hundred and Eighty-Nmth bivouacked for the 
night in the woods. 

On the morning of the seventh, reveille sounded at 
four o'clock, and at sun-rise the whole column was 
again advancing. The cavalry scoured the country 
before us. Our course was along the Jerusalem Plank- 
road for several miles. At half past eight o'clock a.m., 
the rain began to fall, and continued with intervals 
during the day. The country through which we passed 



80 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLrNTEEES. 

was the first we had beheld since landing in Virginia 
undesolated by the horrid tramp of war. The sight 
of fences, new-sown fields and quiet dwellings was a 
relief. Having marched twenty miles through the mud, 
all were rejoiced when the weather having cleared up 
pleasantly, we were marched out into a large corn-field 
for supper and rest. Many had fallen out by the way. 
Some corn-stacks found standing here and there in the 
field contributed forage for horses and stalks for our 
beds. The moon, and stars shone from a serene sky. 
At one o'clock in the night, however, a furious rain- 
squall awoke us from our slumbers. Preparing a hasty 
breakfast by our rail-fires, at two o'clock we were 
again on our way toiling through the mud and dark- 
ness. We crossed the Nottoway River on pontoons. 
These were made by investing boat-shaped frames 
twenty-four feet in length with canvas, which being 
anchored above and below the crossing parallel with 
the current and covered with scantling and boai-ds, 
sounded and swung beneath the tread of the horses and 
men as the column passed over. The light from the 
camp-fires left behind us seemed to intensify the dark 
ness before us. Soon after crossing the river the men 
began to throw away their knapsacks, and blankets, 
and extra clothing. Stopping at daylight to permit 
cavalry to advance, we passed Sussex Court-House at 
seven o'clock. Our cavalry had a shght skirmish with 
that of the rebels ahead of us at a place called Cowan's 
Well. At half past one o'clock we halted for dinner, 
the difiicult, rapid marching having made the burdened 
soldiers almost intolerably fatigued and foot-sore. 
Many of the houses of the country through which 
we marched were large and well-built. The carriage- 



189TH NEW- YORK Y0LUNTEEE3. 81 

houses contained luxurious coaches, and appearances in- 
dicated considerable wealth. The women, negroes and 
few "un-colored" men who yet remained were poorly 
clad. Evidently, the supply of caUco and cassimere 
had long since failed in this region. Brisk marching 
brought us at half-past seven to the Weldon Railroad, 
which we struck five miles south of Reams's Station, 
other portions of the expedition having also reached 
the track by different roads, some above and some be- 
low us. Stacking arms, our regiment soon stood in 
single file along one side of the road, and laying hold 
of the rail the whole length of our line, the track was 
quickly torn up and thrown overturned and racked in 
pieces on the opposite side. Piling the ties back upon 
the road in cob-house style and laying the rails across, 
the rebel thoroughfare, either wa^ as far as the eye 
could penetrate, was shortly in flilies, kindled by the 
pine fences and other most combustible materials along 
the track. The rails were rendered useless either by 
the ends bending down of their own weight, or being 
seized by four or five soldiers were bent, when heated, in 
the middle around some neighboring tree into the form 
of the Fifth Corps badge and other fantastic shapes. 
Thus a track many times the length of our regiment 
yielded to the prowess of our arms by one o'clock 
that night. Thereupon we halted at Jarratt's Station 
till morning. The men were very tired, most of them 
having blistered feet and empty knapsacks. Adding to 
our discomfort, the weather became intensely cold, and a 
furious north wind swept, almost unobstructed, along the 
line, thus rendering fires and all attempts to sleep of 
little avail. Daylight appearing, Ave began to search 
for breakfast, and captured several beeves, hogs, chick- 
4.* 



82 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEEES. 

ens and other "game.'* The meat being cooked, the 
breakfast was eaten with a relish which only they who 
have worked hard for twenty-four hours, and then 
stood around in the biting cold of a "norther" for six 
hours longer, can properly appreciate. Marching on 
from this place, at nine o'clock a.m., December ninth, 
with loaded guns, our business this day was to act as 
guard to defend j^arties who were busy destroying the 
track. At dark we were halted near the Mekerren Ri- 
ver, five miles from Bellfield, and the left wing of the 
regiment thrown out on the right of our line of march 
as pickets and skirmishers. The thunder of cannon at 
the front a few miles, indicated that our advance were 
encountering some trouble. All night steadily fell the 
rain and sleet, covering every thing with a thick coat of 
ice, and causing tk^wretchedest sufferings for pickets 
and all concerned^iat our command had thus far ex- 
perienced. 

Before daylight, December tenth, we received orders 
to return. "Falling in," our fcAV remaining blankets 
and tents proved to be so frozen, wet and heavy, the 
men were generally compelled to abandon them. Break- 
fastless and dinnerless we marched all day rapidly, the 
enemy meanwhile shelling the rear of our column, and, 
it was rumored, were endeavoring to reach Sussex 
Court-House before us to dispute our re-crossing the 
Nottoway. Leaving the railroad, we pursued the di- 
rectest route to the Court-House, which we reached at 
seven o'clock in the evening, having marched twenty- 
two miles in the rain without halting. The Second 
Brigade rendezvoused that night closely massed in the 
woods thick with underbrush. This quickly disappeared 
before the hundreds of hatchets, axes and fires. A 



189TH NEW-TOEK YOLUNTEEES. 



83 



hasty supper and as mucli sleep as possible in a rainy 
night were greatly relished. 

Sabbath, December eleventh.— We marched at dawn 
of day, re-crossing the ISTottoway without hindrance. 
"We found nine regiments of the Ninth Corps here pro- 
tecting the passage for us. At noon halting for dinner, 
we remained till the next morning. All day it had 
rained, but at sunset the weather cleared up, and we 
passed the only comfortable night during the entire 

raid. 

December twelfth was a beautiful day, and the mud 
being frozen solid and dry, our jaded column, by mak- 
ing a march of thirteen miles, returned to the same 
grounds in the woods, three miles from Warren Station, 



on which we had bivouacked the fi^ night of the raid. 
All along the rOute for the last ^M^ 
burned all buildings and destroyed 
could not be brought along with us. 



Colonel Burr, taken sick on the ninth, returned in an 
ambulance, and, being carried to the hospital, soon 
went home on leave of absence, the command of the re- 
giment meanwhile devolving upon Lieutenant-Colonel 
Townsend. 

While one company each day Avent out on picket, 
the regiment, having moved its camp twice to secure 
a better locality, on the fourteenth, commenced "camp 
before Petersburgh," located between the Jerusalem 
Plank-Road and the Gurley House, the whole brigade 
rendezvousing there for the rest of the winter. 

On the sixteenth. Company K joined our regiment 
in time to build up their quarters with the other com- 
panies. 

About this time the place of making the picket de- 



84 189TH NEW-YOEK YOLimTEEES. 

tail was changed, so that sixty men and a commissioned 
officer from the whole regiment, each company furnish- 
ing its quota, were sent out daily. While the detail 
was being filled before the Adjutant's tent, each man 
gladly received a fresh religious newspaper or tract for 
his entertainment in unemployed hours on the line. 
This plan of sending out our pickets was maintained 
during our encampment here. With commendable 
pains and ingenuity, tlie quarters of officers and men 
were soon made comfortable and even attractive. 
Building and keeping in repair our own supply-road 
from camp to Parke Station, United States Military 
E-ailroad, constructing and repairing various forts, etc., 
drew from time to time heavily upon our command for 
fatigue details. 

Here we enjoyejfelie benefits of two churches. The 
work of their coffl^Riction was performed voluntarily 
by the soldiers in a short time. Their bodies and gable 
ends were made of pine logs and poles, the crevices 
being chinked and smeared with the re-consecrated soil 
of old Virginia. Roofed with canvas flies, warmed by 
large " stoves — the panel-doors snugly fitting — they 
were attractive places in which to worship the God of 
the American Republic. The new roofs and stoves 
were grants to us from that great and noble institution 
the United States Christian Commission. One, called 
" the Brigade Church," forty by sixty in size, was on the 
left of the brigade ; the other, called " the Church of 
the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth," thirty by forty, 
was on the right. The former was dedicated on Sab- 
bath, the twenty-second of December, by BishojD Ed- 
mund S. Janes; the latter the following Sabbath, by 
the Rev. J. K. Tattle, of Waterloo, New-York. These 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 85 

were among the cliief luxuries of our military life, and 
we revert to them with emotions of pleasure and gra- 
titude. 

In the morning of January sixth, occurred suddenly 
the first death in camp which our regiment suffered, 
that of Joseph S. Grey, of Company K. In all such 
cases we had funeral services, and military burials. 

Several foraging expeditions by our brigade termi- 
nated profitably. Not so the one a brief account of 
which I am about to relate. On Wednesday morning, 
January eleventh, a detail of two hundred and forty 
men from the Second Brigade, including companies H 
and K, of the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth, was sent 
out, with nine wagons, each (?ra\vn by a team of six 
mules, to gather in some forage. Captain Burrage 
Kice was placed in command. Proceeding two miles 
down the Jerusalem Plank-Road^^they turned away 
from it in the direction of the forsaken j^lantation 
whereon a supply of valuable forage had been dis- 
covered. It was about eight miles from camp and six 
and a lialf outside our lines. Reaching this. Captain 
Rice bid the teamsters load and stationed picket-guards 
around sufiiciently distant. While thus engaged he 
was apprised by a loyal resident of the near proximity 
of a band of rebels. Soon he ^ya.s twice fired at. 
Rallying the reserve guard, he found no enemy. The 
train having been loaded as quickly as possible, com- 
menced to return. By order of Captain Rice, Com- 
pany H, under command of Lieutenant H. F. Scofield, 
had the advance both going out and coming in, throw- 
ing out skirmishers on each side of the road, under 
Lieutenant J. G. Rutherford. About a mile from the 
Jerusalem Plank-Road, amid dense woods, a swamp 



86 



189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEEES. 



swollen full by the recent rains compelled the flankers 
on the left of the train to come into the road to pass. 
The enemy secreted as near the road as possible, by 
this swamp, fired upon the middle and rear of the train 
as it was passing. Instantly riding back from the front 
of the train. Captain Rice ordered it forward as rapid- 
ly as possible, and the men to halt and form in line of 
battle. The firing of the enemy, the stampedino- of 
our men, and the hurry of the teams and wagons, now 
made every thing confusion. The two companies of the 
One Hundred and Eighty-:N'inth were the only ones 
that stood firmly in line of battle and deliberately re- 
turned the enemy's fire. There Captain Rice fell from 
his horse mortally wounded. Enough ofiicers and men 
gathered around him. Discovering the firing had 
ceased, evidently thinking the enemy's intention was to 
flank us before we could reach the Plank-Road, to the 
commanders whose unflinching troops had silenced the 
enemy with great emphasis he immediately said • 
" Move forward your men to protect the train. You 
can not assist me. Move forward. Save the train'" 
They obeyed. The fiillen leader should have been 
borne to the train by those around him, and promptly 
succeeded in command by the Captain next in rank 
But, shamefully, both of these duties were neglected 
for which neglects unjust blame was attributed to the 
whole expedition instead of those whose duties they 
were.^ Instantly upon the assault being commenced. 
Captain Rice, with the coolness of a veteran, dispatched 
an orderly to General Gregory for reinforcements It 
was not long before the long-roll was beating in the 
camp of the One Hundred and Eighty-Xinth, and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Townsand quickly led his other ei-ht 



189TH NEW-YOEK VOLTINTEEES. 87 

companies, under command of General Gregory, to the 
rescue. Meeting at our picket-lines the train, the Gen- 
eral ordered it to camp and all its guard to " About 
face !" and with the rest confront the foe, if necessary, 
and bring in Captain Rice's body. 

When within half a mile of the place of the attack 
all were halted, and Company A, with a detachment of 
Company H, under Lieutenant Rutherford, sent for- 
ward. It was now dark. They had proceeded about 
half a mile when Sergeant Yose, of Captain Stocum's 
Company, called out he had found a body. Captain S. 
identified it as Captain Rice's, but received command 
to jjroceed cautiously half a mile further and wait for 
orders. No enemy was foand in front, but while halted 
he heard firing in the rear. This was the rebels attack- 
ing a company searching in vain for the body. Cap- 
tain S. thereupon received orders to report to his regi- 
ment on double-quick. Which being done, General 
Gregory, having posted two companies as flankers on 
both sides of the road, ordered Captain S. to " go in 
and bring out the body." Advancing his line of skir- 
mishers a few roads beyond the body, he halted them 
and directed Sergeant A. Van Wie, George Blakesly, 
Warren Halbert, and Stephen Sayles to be the bearers. 
While doing this they were fired on, but promptly re- 
turning the fire, and charging through tlie woods, quick- 
ly routed the ambushed murderers, and brought in the 
body. It had been stripped naked and shot once 
through the waist and twice through the head. On 
the thirteenth, it was embalmed at City Point and sent 
home in charge of Lieutenant D wight Warren. The 
following communication was published by his deeply 
afflicted fellow-ofiicers relative to his death : 



88 189TH NEW- YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

" Headquarters Second Brigade, First ) 

Division, Fifth A. C, January 12, 1865, ) 

" The sacrifice of precious lives — the noblest and the 
best — continues daily upon our country's altar. 

" Yesterday, Captain Burrage Rice, Acting Inspect- 
or-General of this brigade, from Company C, One 
Hundred and Eighty-Ninth New- York Volunteers, 
while ably commanding a foraging expedition and re- 
turning, was killed in a sudden attack on his command 
by guerrillas, as he was bravely j)rotecting his train. 

" His last words were : ' Boys, tell my dear family I 
am killed. I send my cordial love to them. Take this 
Bword to my wife.' 

"At a meeting of his regimental and brigade fellow- 
officers, called to-day by Brigadier Edgar M. Gregory, 
of which Joseph G. Townsend, Major commanding the 
One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth Regiment, was chosen 
Chairman, and A. M. Beman, Captain of Company E, 
Secretary, the following preamble and resolutions, re- 
ported by a committee appointed for that purpose, were 
unanimously adopted : 

" Whereas, In the righteous providence of God, our 
noble and accomplished fellow-officer Burrage Rice, 
Captain and Inspector-General, has lost his life, while 
courageously engaged in the discharge of his duty; 
therefore, 

^^Jiesolved, That we feel the great loss which his regi- 
ment, brigade, and the whole country have suffered in 
his death. 

^^Jiesolved, That the superior attributes of his gentle- 
manly, soldierly, and upright character, had endeared 
him to the hearts of the officers and men of this entire 
command, and we mourn his loss, as of a brother. 



189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEERS. 89 

" Hesolved^ That we kindly tender the sentiments of 
our deepest sympathy to his bereaved wife, children, 
and friends, and earnestly recommend them to the 
Saviour, to sustain them in this great affliction. 

'•'Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be sent 
to his family, and to the papers interested, for publi- 
cation. 

E. M. Gregory, 
Brevet Brigadier-General, 
William H. Rogers, 
Chaplain 189th New- York Volunteers, 

John Stocum, 
Captain Company A. 



^ 



At eleven o'clock of the following Sabbath, January 
fifteenth. General Gregory called the brigade together 
at his headquarters, for the funeral services of Captain 
Rice and private Henry G. Bull, of his company, who 
cfied suddenly in camp on the thirteenth. The sermon 
Avas preached from Eecl. 8:8. On the twenty-fifth, 
Colonel Burr returned from home with his own com- 
mission as Colonel and that of Lieutenant-Colonel 
Townsend as Lieutenant-Colonel. On the evening of 
the twenty-eighth. Captain Withey was unanimously 
chosen Major. * Brigadier-General Gregory being home 
on leave of absence on account of his wife's dangerous 
illness, and Lieutenant-Colonel Townsend and Major 
Withey on business connected with their promotion, 
the command of the brigade meanwhile fell on Colonel 
Burr and that of the regiment on Captain Stocum. 
Leaves of absence and furloughs being now permitted 
to twenty per cent of the regiment at a time, by a 
general order, as many officers and privates as possible 
are improving the opportunity to visit home. Dili- 



90 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEEES. 

gent picket, fatigue and drill duties keep us busily en- 
gaged. " Coming events cast their shadows before, " 
in military service generally, in the form of camp ru- 
mors. Accordingly, February third, it was rumored 
that the Fifth Corps was under orders to be ready to 
march at a moment's warning. The certainty and des- 
tination of our going soon were unknown to all. 



CHAPTER THIRD. 

BATTLE OF HATCHER'S RUN. 

The rumored movement of the Fifth Corps came on 
Sunday, February fifth. The One Hundred and Eigh- . 
ty-Ninth received command the iDrevious evening to he 
ready with three days' rations for a movement the next 
morning, with hght-marching orders. Our sixty pick- 
ets also had three days' rations distributed to them, 
with directions to remain Avhere they were till further 
orders. A small camp-guard, mainly composed of those 
imable to march, was left in our quarters to preserve 
every thing'.intact till our expected return. The move- 
ment bore the appearance of a general advance involv- 
ing the Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth Corps. 

The light of subsequent events alone revealed its in- 
tent and°importance. Passing Warren Station, taking 
the track of the old Weldon Railroad for some dis- 
tance, we encountered the enemy's intrenched forces at 
Hatcher's Run about eleven o'clock, nine miles from 
our camp. Thick woods of underbrush, and small trees 
skirted both sides of the run, and mostly concealed the 
rebels' works. Soon our skirmishers were hotly en- 
gaged and as fast as our column came up it was formed 
into Unes of battle in an open field reaching nearly to 



92 



189TH KEW-TOEK VOLUNTEERS. 



the run. Oar brigade constituted the second line 
But a cliarge by the One Hundred and Forty-seventh 
-t ennsylvania, and Fourth Delaware, completely routed 
the confederates; and marching forward till night, we 
supped, and half of the regiment going out as pickets, 
the rest lay down to sleep. The cannonading of the 
feecond Corps, engaged with the rebels, had been heard 
durmg the latter part of the day away to our rio-ht 
and It became evident General Warren had moved'too 
far to the left to form the designed connection with 
that corps. 

Accordingly, at twelve o'clock that night we were 
ordered quietly to withdraw to the right. A hasty 
march of seven miles brought us amidst the brio-ht 
camp-fires, trains, and intrenchments of the Second 
Corps, which was itself moving toward the right 

Our brigade was marched into a position behind 
some breastworks just thrown up by the Tiiird Division 
Second Corps. An extension of the Federal lines for 
about four miles in a south-westerly direction toward 
the Southside Railroad being thus achieved, our position 
was the extreme left. It was to be determined the fol- 
lowing day whether the rebels could drive us from it. 
On the sixth, a reconnoissance and the lively eno-ao-e- 
ment of the opposing skirmishers determined the^'pre- 
sence of a strong and menacing foe. 

At three o'clock p.m., our regiment advanced to the 
skirmish-lme to relieve the One Hundred and Fortieth 
New-York, Third Division, Fifth Corps. Engaged 
sharply here for a time, we were relieved, and betno- 
joined by the rest of our brigade, wheeled into a line 
of battle m rear of a portion of the Third Division 
The rebels poured a heavy volley into us and charged 



189TH NEW-YOPwK VOLUNTEERS. 93 

with a fiendish yell. The hne before iis broke and gave 
way in confusion. Back upon our Hne rushed the fly- 
ing Federals, jDursued by the furious rebels. The rout 
away to the left and right seemed to be complete. 
Never did Colonel Burr and his staff exhibit greater 
coolness and bravery. Riding to and fro along the 
line in front of his brigade, amid a storm of ieadeu 
hail, he rallied and strengthened them to stand firm. 
Many portions of the line were forced tempormily to 
give way, but quickly re-formed, and stayed the prog- 
ress of the confederates in this part of the field. The 
One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth, under Captain Stocum, 
did gloriously. 

Night having come on, we were ordered to fall back 
to the fortifications. The One Hundred and Eighty- 
Ninth had two killed and eleven wounded in this ac- 
tion. February seventh, the pickets lefc on the line at 
the old camp were ordered up. Having erected an- 
other line of breast-works less than a quarter of a mile 
in advance of the first, our regiment made themselves 
as comfortable as possible beside these, with fires and 
pine boughs so placed as to protect us to some extent 
from the wind and cold rain which was fallincc* A strongr 
picket-line was thrown out beyond the battle-field, of 
which the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth maintained 
its share. On the edge of an open field close by, we 
buried the fallen heroes of the Second Brigade, making 
a solitary row of graves more honorable for a final rest- 
ing-place than Westminster Abbey or the Pyramids ! 
A few passages of eternal truth from the Scriptures 
read, a hymn sung, a prayer offered — these were the 
simple ceremonies of their burial ; and we left them, 



94 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

erecting for each a rude head-board telling his name, 
company, and regiment. 

On the eleventh, we changed our position to the other 
side of Hatcher's Run, on the edge of Cummings's 
plantation. The new branch-railroad was soon built 
from Yfarren Station to this place, and Humphreys's 
Station, the terminus, located on the opposite side of 
the farm from our camp. The notion of returning to 
our old quarters again being abandoned, the remainder 
of our "goods" were brought to this place. Although 
this encampment was on worse ground than either of 
our former ones, still, by the twenty-second, the men 
had comfortable quarters erected. The general ap- 
pearance of our camp improved constantly during our 
stay here. On the sixteenth, in line with the quarters 
of the field and staff, our church was again erected, 
constructed of the forty by sixty fly, without logs, so 
as to be all canvas, and, with its exterior and interior 
ornaments, looked well. It did good service. A free 
writing-table, furnished with writing materials, and 
tactical schools, occupied it week-days, and religious 
meetings every Sabbath and every evening. 

Building forts, abattis, and performing picket and drill 
duty were our chief employments. The same plan of 
detailing the pickets was observed as at the previous 
camp. 

Thursday, the twenty-third, was the One Hundred 
and Eighty-Ninth's first pay- day. We received pay- 
ment up to January first, 1865. 

At dress-parade on the afternoon of March third, 
occurred the presentation of a horse and equipage to 
Colonel Burr. Each company of his regiment contri- 
buted forty dollars toward its purchase. The animal 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 95 

was noble in appearance, and the testimonial ceremo- 
nies interesting. The following account of them is 
from the proper committee: 

*' Headquarters One Hundred and Eighty-TTinth ) 
N. Y. v., March 6, 1865. f 

" Official courage and good management in battle 
are. most important qualitie^s in a commander. Their 
conspicuous manifestation yi presence of the enemy de- 
serves special honor and reward. At a meeting of the 
officers of the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth 'New- 
York Volunteers, March first, 1865, it was 

" ' Resolved, That as a token of our high appreciation 
of the noble manner in which Colonel A. L. Burr com- 
manded the Second Brigade, during the battle of Hatch- 
er's Run, February sixth, 1865, we will purchase and pre- 
sent to him the black horse now owned by Captain 
Burdett, Brigade Commander, the price of which is 
placed at six hundred dollars.' 

" The presentation occurred at dress-parade of the 
third of March, when Captain Crosby made the follow- 
ing speech : 

" ' Respected Colonel : In behalf of the One Hun- 
dred and Eighty-Ninth Regiment, in view of the deep 
interest you have ever taken in our welfare, and the 
gallantry you displayed on the memorable field near 
Hatcher's Run, on the sixth of February last, I have 
the honor to present you this noble horse. We desire 
you to receive it. Sir, as a token of our high regard 
for you. Judging from the past, we feel that we have 
a friend in you, and we desire you to feel that you have 
friends indeed in us. You have ever labored, not only 
for the welfare of the officers of this Regiment, but 
also for the men, for w^hich they feel indeed grateful to 



96 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

you. They have contributed very liberally of their 
means for the purchase of this horse, which now stands 
so proudly before you. The deadly contest is before 
us ; but may this animal, like the celebrated horse that 
bore the illustrious Ca3sar across the Rubicon, carry 
you on to victory and renown : but, unlike him, he will 
never urge you forward to tyranny and usurpation. 
No doubt many of us will fall in the coming campaign, 
but whether or not we survive this eventful struggle, 
we all desire to be remembered by you as we shall ever 
remember jou. We are engaged in a glorious cause 
for the old flag and a united country, and may the con- 
test soon terminate successfully for our Government 
and mankind, and we be permitted to lay aside our ar- 
mor and return to our homes and friends ; but may 
this Black Hawk, unlike one of former times, pass 
without harm the fiery ordeal, and encounter without 
injury the shot and shell and the dreaded Minie, and 
then accompany you to the Empire State, there to re- 
mind you of these ready hands and liberal hearts — will- 
ing ever to contribute to your comfort and prosperity, 
and ready ever to follow you to victory beneath the 
ample folds of our starry flag. Take this token, Colo- 
nel, and allow me to remind you that you have our be^ 
wishes for your welfare.' 

" Colonel Burr, though much affected, made the fol- 
lowing response ; 

" ' Captain Crosby and Fellow-Soldiers of the 
One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth ! I can not now com- 
mand language to adequately convey my sentiments 
and tlianks for this valuable and flattering expression 
of your regard. Permit me to thank you with all my 



189TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 97 

heart — all of you, both officers and privates — for this 
favor. I have simply aimed to do my duty. Beyond 
this I claim no merit. Indeed, any man in this mighty 
cause ought to be faithful to his trusts, his country and 
his God ! I can only say, I hope hereafter as heretofore 
to do in camp and in battle my duty in every thing, and 
continue more and more to deserve your confidence 
and love, which you have been pleased in this unexpect- 
ed manner to manifest to me. Again, I thank you ! 
and may the God of our glorious cause bless you for- 
ever ! ' 

" Such unanimity in a command is prophetic of good 
to the service. 

J. L. Brown, ) 

Elias Horton, V Gommittee.^^ 

D. D. Owen, ) 

The news from General Sherman and from all parts 
of the Government's operations at this time give the 
utmost satisfaction and encouragement. The desert- 
ers who daily present themselves at our lines, and 
give themselves up, express the deepest despondency 
and hopelessness of their cause. 

Oar division having been reviewed on the sixth, it 
was followed by a review of the corps on the four- 
teenth. On the latter occasion, a blow of dust, sand, 
and wind, like a simoom, swept mercilessly across the 
plains, making the pageant any thing but pleasant for 
the soldiers. Colonel Burr being home on leave of 
absence, Lieutenant-Colonel Townsend was now in 
command. Every thing again became prophetic of 
the opening of the spring campaign. Sheridan was 
said to be on his way to join our corps in assisting to 
5 



98 189TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 

capture Richmond. The sutlers were commanded, on 
the fourteenth of March, to move their property to 
City Point, and a general order given for us to have 
four days' rations and sixty rounds of cartridges pre- 
pared, and hold ourselves ready to march at a mo- 
ment's warning. Having been ourselves again review- 
ed on the sixteenth, we reheved the Second Corps on 
the twenty-third, to give them the opportunity of suf- 
fering review. On the night of the twenty-fourth, the 
rebels making their assault on Fort Steadman, and be- 
ing repulsed with great loss, the next day were attack- 
ed by the Second Corps, and our brigade was ordered 
out to hold the redoubts and breast-works eighty rods 
to our left, in case they should be attacked. On the 
twenty-sixth, all surplus baggage was either expressed 
home, or consigned to the Quartermaster. In this 
nervous, unsettled condition we waited for marching 
orders till the afternoon of Tuesday, the twenty-eighth, 
when Sheridan's cavalry having passed up the Jeru- 
salem Plank-Road, we received orders to start early 
the next morning. 



CHAPTER FOURTH. 

THE FINAL CAMPAIGN. 

On the morDing of Wednesday, March twenty- 
ninth, we breakfasted a little after four o'clock. Tak- 
ing our places in the moving column at five o'clock, 
we passed out through the low-lands, across which our 
picket-line had extended in the rear of our encamp- 
ment. Soon our cabins disappeared in the distance. 

The gentle zephyrs breathed through the woods, 
which had begun to blush with vernal beauty, and the 
tender grass was beginnmg to greet us with its ver- 
dent freshness, and all things, that silent spring morn- 
ing, seemed to conspire to make the march of our au- 
gust column to its terrible work grand in the highest 
degree. 

Having proceeded toward Dinwiddle Court-House 
till noon, w^e turned, after a halt, to the right, and 
soon, at Skunk's Hollow, brisk skirmishing deepened 
into a spirited conflict, called the battle of Lewis's 
Farm. Companies A, B, and a portion of F composed 
our skirmish-line, under Adjutant Roney, which, follow- 
ed by the regiment in line of battle, advanced through 
brushy woods obUquely to the right, struggling with 
the enemy, who were constantly giving way. The 
First Brigade, now upon our right, were heavily at- 



100 1S9TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 

tacked and driven back. We, ordered to their sup- 
port, moved rapidly forward, and a battery opening 
with ns upon the rebels, they were finally routed, leav- 
ing their dead and wounded upon the ffeld. Our regi- 
ment had none killed, but twelve wounded mostly 
upon the skirmish-line, among whom was Lieutenant 
Leonard Briggs. Company B took twenty-five prison- 
ers and three horses, with tlieir equipments. The 
skirmishers, with orders to keep vigilantly awake, re- 
mained allliight upon the advanced line. Constantly 
it rained, often in torrents. The regiment stood 
around in the darkness, and made themselves as com- 
fortable as possible. On the thirtieth, at one o'clock 
P.M., our skirmishers having been relieved to join us, 
it continuing to rain, we moved out on the Quaker 
Road to the Boydtow^n Plank-Road, and took our po- 
sition as supporters of a battery which was hotly en- 
gaged with the enemy. Furiously shot and shell were 
flying at a dangerous proximity over our heads. 
Quickly we w^ere ordered to lie flat upon the groimd. 
Our place w^as betw^een two lines of breast-works, 
thrown up by the Third Brigade while succeeding 
slowly in forcing the stubborn foe to retire. The 
ground beneath us was a complete slough of mud and 
w^ater. The steadiness of our men, while those furi- 
ous blasts of iron-storm were sweeping over them, was 
admirable. At four o'clock a solid shot came, career- 
ing on its deadly mission at a lower range than the 
rest, and striking in the midst of Company F, instant- 
ly killed Jamain Kimball, Henry Davis, and Frank 
Emery, mangling them fearfully, and w^ounded Frede- 
rick Ulmer and Henry McDonald. Ulmer, poor fel- 
low ! nobly endured amputation of one leg near the 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. ' 101 

thigh, while the other ankle was badly mutilated. 
How pale he looked when, after the operation of am- 
putation and dressing was over, he left the field-hos- 
pital for City Point ! His spirit was soon after called 
home to a better world. Just before dark that after- 
noon, the regiment moved into a piece of pine woods 
about a mile to the rear, and took supper and lodgings 
for the night. 

At daylight the next morning, being relieved by 
troops belonging to the Second Corps, we took a 
hasty breakfast, and marched along the Boydtown 
Plank-Road to Gravelly Run, and massed in support 
of the Second and Third Divisions of our Corps, who 
were engaged desperately with the enemy. The First 
Brigade, Third Division, giving way in front of us, 
with some confusion, we were marched by left flank to 
occupy the ground lost by that division. Meanwhile, 
they were re-forming behind breast-works, and our 
batteries opened suddenly with tremendous power, 
mowing down the woods, and causing our antagonists 
to retreat, while the One Hundred and Eighty-Xinth, 
with vociferous yells, charged on double-quick through 
dense woods past our skirmish-line, and poured deadly 
volleys into their flying ranks, killing and wounding 
many, and capturing fifty-three prisoners, with their 
rifle pits and intrenching tools. Colonel Townsend or- 
dered to cease firing, post pickets, and throw up in- 
trenchments. Hardly was the work begun, before the 
rebels opened upon us with twelve-pound shot and 
shell, which they furiously continued for two hours. 
Although nearly every shell burst directly over it, our 
regiment was again strangely preserved from death, 
the shield of a merciful Providence averting destruc- 



102 189TH KEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

tiou while we were defending the ground won by our 
daring deeds that day. But here, while posting the 
pickets, Lieutenant Lyman P. Hotchkiss was wound- 
ed. So conspicuous was the success of the One Hun- 
dred and Eighty-Xinth to-day, that their brave conduct 
was complimented by their Brigade, Division, and 
Corps commanders. This night, at two o'clock a.m., 
we marched seven miles to the support of Sheridan at 
Five Forks. At four o'clock p.m., Major Withey, with 
three companies, was sent to the skirmish-line, support- 
ed by the other seven companies of our regiment in 
line of battle. Advancing on double-quick, left-wheel, 
we closely pressed the fleeing enemy. Thus they were 
completely flanked. Thereupon a charge was made 
all along our line, by which six thousand rebels, with 
their arms and ammunition, were captured, and the 
battle of Five Forks, the key to Petersburgh, Rich- 
mond, and the downfall of the rebellion, turned glori- 
ously in ftwor of the Union. Li this decisive charge, 
every ofiicer and man was in his place. General Greg- 
ory followed closely by the One Hundred and Eighty- 
Ninth, being the first whose horse leaped the enemy's 
fortifications, and who struck down with his sword 
those who attempted to f-aise their guns to take his 
life. General Warren's shameful abuse of four of our 
men, whom he had sent to make a reconnoissance ot 
the position and strength of the rebels, caused our regi- 
ment to receive, with entire satisfaction, the announce- 
ment on the next day, that General Sheridan had re- 
lieved him, by putting General Griftin in his place, in 
command of our corps. 

Sunday, April second, having rested and replenish- 
ed our haversacks with hard bread, cofiee, and sugar, 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 103 

we received the joyful tidings of the capture of Peters- 
burgh, as we were about to march to support Sheri- 
dan's cavahy, who were pursuing the enemy's retreat- 
ing columns. Moving rapidly onward, we crossed the 
Southside Railroad at two o'clock r.M. Everywhere 
appeared the beginiaings of those scenes of ruin which 
the disjecta memhra of Lee's shattered army present- 
ed along the whole line of our rapid pursuit. On the 
third, the news of the evacuation of Richmond evoked 
the wildest cheers and enthusiasm. The beauty of the 
'country, whose plantations and woodlands had begun 
to put on the appearances of spring, the frequent re- 
ports of startling triumphs of our forces closing around 
the rear of Lee, and the animating sights of victories 
by our cavalry or infantry in his front, overmatched 
the fatigue and hunger of our men, and nerved them 
to disregard the long marches and short rations, be- 
lieving that they were actually amid the final scenes 
and rushing events of the nation's grand triumph. 
INTow across lots of farm or woodland, and now along 
tbe roads our exultant columns took their way. Pass- 
ing through Mannsboro, Amelia County, Virginia, and 
Dennisville, we struck the Dan\dlle Railroad at dark 
on the fourth, seven miles east of Burksville, and im- 
mediately were ranged in line of battle to encounter 
the forces of fugacious Lee, trying to elude Sheridan, 
who had intercepted him in his westward flight. 

Hastily erecting breast-Nvorks across the railroad, 
the One Hundred and Eighty-Xinth at length lay 
down behind them for the night, no enemy appearing. 
On the morning of the fifth, planting batteries, 
strengthening earth-works, and maneuvers of forces, 
indicated the proximity of the enemy. Soon wo wer« 



104 189TH NEW-TOEK VOLTJNTEEES. 

ordered to advance to assist the cavalry in capturing 
a body of rebels with whom they were engaged. We 
had not proceeded far, when shouts of victory were 
heard, and jubilant troops of cavalry came back, bring- 
ing many captured battle-flags, and announcing that 
we were not needed, as that portion of the rebels had 
been taken prisoners. We returned to the fortifica- 
tions, and staid all night. The name of the railroad 
station by which we were bivouacked, is Jettersville, 
forty-three miles west from Richmond, and seventy- 
five east from Lynchburgh. 

The next day, the sixth, the Fifth Corj^s marched 
circuitously through Paynesville thirty-three miles, to 
head Lee, which being done, at eight o'clock, weary 
and hungry, we lay down by the road-side for the 
night. Up at daybreak, we marched slowly in the 
forenoon, but rapidly in the afternoon and evening, to- 
ward the beautiful Blue Moun tarns in the distance, 
and at nine o'clock p.m., halted for the night at Prince 
Edward's Court-House. On the eighth, at six o'clock 
A.M., we moved rapidly forward, passing Sidney Col- 
lege, a fine edifice, in the morning, and Prosjoect Sta- 
tion, on the Danville Railroad, in the evening, and 
halted at midnight in a condition of extreme exhaus- 
tion, " better felt than described." 

The bugle-notes by which at six o'clock on the 
morning of Sunday, the ever-memorable ninth day of 
April, we were summoned to renew our marching, 
called us forth to the proudest deeds that ever shed 
lustre upon human efforts. Word was brought that 
Lee, completely surrounded, was engaging Sheridan, 
intent upon cutting through. Marching toward Ap- 
pomattox Station, we met forty cannon, numerous 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 105 

wagon-trains and army stores, and at the depot four 
railroad-trains of supplies, captured the previous night 
by the cavalry, who were now struggling with the 
advance of our ensnared foe. The enemy, unconscious 
of the presence of the Fifth Corps in support of Sheri- 
dan's cavalry, are slowly but surely repelling it, ex- 
pecting to break through its lines and escape. Form- 
ing in hne of battle in an open field half a mile in the 
rear of our cavalry line, which was fighting briskly, 
but giving Avay, companies A and F, of the One Hun- 
dred and Eighty-Ninth, being deployed as brigade- 
skirmishers, advanced and relieved the cavalry, who 
moved off to the right of our corps, and took their po- 
sition in the invincible circle, w^hose toils now sur- 
rounded the greatest hope and army of the rebellion. 
Coolly and steadily our columns advanced under the 
volleys of shell and sohd shot poured upon us from the 
rebel batteries. Our infantry skirmish-line having be- 
come hotly engaged with that of the rebels, we pro- 
ceeded double-quick to their support. Rapidly the 
foe drew back, and our column rose to the brow of 
the hills around Appomattox Court-House. Here the 
grandest mihtary view ever presented to mortal sight 
appeared. Wherever the woods did not intercept the 
view. Grant's dread phalanxes of embattled hosts, in- 
fantry, cavalry, and artillery, were seen converging, 
" with awful tread and slow" down the slopes toward 
Lee's hostile and defiant battalions moving to embrace 
annihilation, if made to give battle. On both sides 
the banners are all floating on the breeze. Generals 
and their mounted aids and ofiicers are hurrying to 
and fro, directing the movements which are to decide 
5* 



106 189TH NEW-YOEK VOLUNTEERS. 

the issue of the four years of war. The double circle 
of skirmishers comes into closer and closer conflict. 

Our boys, with fixed and pallid features, move on- 
ward, expecting every minute to j^articipate in the 
most overwhelming outburst of fire and death and ruin 
that ever shook the martial field. Then across the 
fields, at terrible speed through our brigade skirmish- 
line, came Lee's orderly, bearing a flag of truce, and 
exclaiming : " Cease firing ! General Lee surrenders 
with all his forces !" Instantly was riven, as if by a 
thunderbolt from heaven, the iron spell which had 
bound every man to his duty and his fate in the ex- 
pected conflict, and in an unrestricted confusion of 
shouts and demonstrations*of joy, ofiicers and privates 
gave the wdldest vent to their feeling of gratitude and 
delight. 

Thereupon both armies bivouacked ioi static quo^ 
while the Generals-in-Cliief, victor and vanquished, met 
together in the court-house to agree definitely upon 
the terms of the surrender. General Gregory having 
formed his brigade ready to encamp, requested the 
Chaplain of the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth to 
lead in prayer and singing the Doxology in devout 
thanksgiving to God, for thus causing the nation to 
gain the victory, and mankind their rights. Never 
was an act of religious devotion performed with a 
deeper cordiality. That night w^e slept with the glad 
satisfaction that the war was practically ended, which 
was such ambrosial food for the mind, as partly to sup- 
ply the want of food for the body. But it rained dur- 
ing the night and most of the next day, both protract- 
ing our stay, and making it more uncomfortable. For 
the ceremonies of the surrender were postponed, and 



189TII NEW-TOKK VOLUJJTEEES. 107 

our camping-ground became extremely muddy. Hav- 
in- moved our bivouac to tlie opposite hill-side on the 
eleventh, the First Division received orders on the 
twelfth to return to the Court-House Villa and take 
position as receivers of the arms of the surrendered 
army This we did, ranged in three parallel columns. 
The rebels marched in order from their bivouac on the 
adiacent hill-side, between the first and second column, 
which were facing them, and stacked their arms and 
colors, and by file right, marched back between the 
second and third columns to their camp. These cere- 
monies were finished at three o'clock on the twelfth, 
whereupon the rebels commenced to go away to their 
homes. In this surrender were embraced twenty-si.^- 
thousand men, one hundred and forty-seven pieces of 
artillery, and eighteen thousand stands of small-arms, 
besides wagons, mules, and other army matenals. Our 
utter destitution of all food for man and beast was con- 
tinued, by the first supplies received after the surren- 
der being given to our prisoners, who had to be fed 
before tSey started for home, as they had nothing 

Torn Dicked up by the soldiers where cavalrymen had 
^ri horses, a'nd ground in a coffee-mill fastened 

o a tree in the camp, and called "the regimenta 

grist-mill," constituted our principal subsistence till 

the fourteenth, when suppUes arrived. 

In apprehension of danger from lawless incursions 

of gnen-illas, said to be prowling through the su - 

roundinc. country, considerably large camp-gunid. 

wl nightly posted at the proper distances around 
he exposed sides of our rendezvous while we remain- 
diX vicinity. Appomattox Co«vt-House re.u^r- 

ed forever historically conspicuous as the place of the 



108 189TH NEW-YORK yOLUNTEEKS. 

surrender of the rebel army of Western Virginia, em- 
braces in all about a dozen houses of rather ordinary 
architecture and appearance. A store, court-house, 
jail, hotel, and a lew dwellings, are all it can boast. 
The surrounding country, traversed by deep ravines, 
is undulating, and occupied by extensive plantations 
and beautiful Avoodlands. Here culminated in utter 
failure the slaveholders' efforts to dismember and over- 
throw the free American Union, for the purpose of 
rearing upon its ruins a slaveholding aristocracy. Here 
ended the greatest war known to the annals of time. 
Here rebellion, secession, and slavery found a common 
grave, "/Sec semper tyrcmnis .'" 



CHAPTER FIFTH. 

RETUKN HOME CONCLUSION. 

At noon Saturday, April fifteenth, we coramenccd 
our return. On account of the mud and rain, our 
march of fifteen miles that half-day was as hard as any 
previous day's performance, and the regiment was glad 
to halt for the night, which they did after dark. The 
next day at one o'clock p.m., found us rendezvoused 
on the highest hill in the vicinity of that lovely village 
called Farmville. Here Colonel Burr rejoined the 
regiment, and resumed command. As we stopped, 
the dispatch announcing the assassination of President 
Lincoln was received, producing in all hearts the pro- 
foundest sorrow for the loss of so beloved and great a 
man, and rage at the perjDCtrators of the hop'id 
crime. 

Proceeding at seven in the morning, we followed 
the Southside Railroad to five miles west of Burks- 
ville, where we staid, gaining rest and refreshments, 
until early on the twentieth. Then, the regiment in 
fine spirits took up its line of march toward Peters- 
burgh, and on the twenty-second, commenced guard- 
ing the railroad two miles east of Ford's Station, the 
regimental headquarters being located at the cite of 
the former mansion of the Osborn plantation, so called 



110 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

from the name of its owner, who lived in Petersburgh. 
The fine edifice, which was his dwelling, had been 
burned a few months previous, and only the weaving- 
house, negro-quarters, etc., remained. The railroad 
guards were detailed after the manner of pickets, com- 
panies A, D, and F located separate from the rest of 
the regiment toward Petersburgh. On the twenty- 
fifth, obedient to a general order, the One Hundred 
and Eighty-Ninth was paraded at noon, to pay our fu- 
neral honors to the memory of our beloved martyred 
President. By changes and pains in locating and con- 
structing our camp, we had fairly commenced to enjoy 
some of the luxuries of military life once^nore, when 
the contraction of the lines of the Fifth Corps was or- 
dered, it having by mistake assumed guardianship of 
ten miles too much of the railroad toward Petersburgh. 
Accordingly, on the twenty-seventh, taking up our fine 
of march westward, on the raih-oad we passed our 
brigade headquarters at Ford's Station, and after some 
oscillation, fixed our tents on the plantation of Mr. 
Sydnorj who, while the regiment was doing its guaid 
duties, was beginning to " make a crop " on four hun- 
dred acres of his long-neglected land, two hundred 
acres being so fenceless and overthrown by military 
occupation, that its recovery was looked upon as hope- 
less till another year. 

The reading, at dress parade, on the evening of the 
twenty-eighth, of the ofiicial news of Johnston's surren- 
der on Grant's terms, caused the Old Dominion to re- 
sound again with loyal acclamations. 

In a few days, the summons of the Fifth Corps to 
Washington for discharge, began to be predicted in 
camp rumors, and on the second day of May, the web 



189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. Ill 

come order arrivecl, and instantly, with irrepressible 
joy, the troops pulled down their tents, and setting 
out on the long overland route to the national capital, 
were " homeward bound," Accustomed to fatiguing 
marches, this one we performed with double courage, 
for the dear attractions of home drew on our hearts, 
and its bright light shone upon our spirits. 

Passing through charred and conquered Peters- 
burgh on the third, and proud, humbled Richmond on 
the sixth, we were glad when, on the thirteenth, we 
pitched our tents on Arlington Heights, four miles 
from the Capitol, whose triumphant dome was visible 
from near by our camp. Among all the incidents 
of this homeward journey, none will linger longer in 
our memories than those of one rainy night, when, 
having marched till after- dark, we turned aside into 
the woods, and obedient to command^ embraced that 
privilege the soldier sometimes enjoys, of maA;i;?<7 him- 
self as comfortable as possible. This we did, by 
standing beside trees, tireless and supperless, amid tlie 
torrents of rain, which came rushing down. At Man- 
chester, some whom the surgeons deemed unable to 
travel further, went aboard a steamer, to finish " the 
march " by water, and rejoined their regiment after it 
had rendezvoused at Arlington. 

On the morning of the day appointed for the Grand 
Review, with our guns and equipage as bright as 
bright could be, and dressed in our neatest military 
suit, our corps took its part in that magnificent pageant 
of our nation's unparalleled glory of military greatness 
and power, the One Hundred and Eighty-Xinth pass- 
ing the reviewing stand, occupied by the President, 
Lieutenant-i^eneral, et alii, at a quarter past two o'clock 



112 ^ 189TH NEW-YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

P.M. Returning to our bivouac, the officers busied 
themselves preparing their reports, ready for muster- 
out. 

On the twenty-ninth. Governor Fenton reviewed all 
the New- York troops of our corps. Evidently it was 
a superb sight. But we returned to our quarters, 
feeling that however important and entertaining such 
pageant military exhibitions may be to others, they are 
great bores to the soldiers. That afternoon the proper 
officer appeared in our camp, and mustered us out. 

The following morning, the detailed men from de- 
tached duty, and convalescents from hospitals, having 
returned to the regiment, we marched to the head- 
quarters of our beloved Brigadier-General to pay to 
him our parting respects. General Gregory, in tears, 
bade us good-by, with the foUowiqg memorable words : 

" Officers and men of the One Hundred and 
Eighty-Ninth : You are about to go again to your 
homes. Thanks be to God, our nation is saved ! You 
can go to your homes with the proud consciousness 
that you have faithfully contributed, by your honorable 
and arduous services, to this great salvation. Officers, 
you have ever been kind and obedient in the discharge 
of your duties. Men, you have been faithful soldiers. 
Your lives have been signally preserved in the shock 
of battles and privations of the service. The bonds by 
which you are united to my heart are inseverable. I 
shall always cherish your memories with the tenderest 
affection and proudest satisfaction. But your time will 
not allow of a speech from me. May the God of our 
cause, who has guided us through this -mighty strug- 
gle, who has given the nation such com^^lete and glo- 
rious victory, ever grant you his blessings and protec- 



1S9TH NEW-YOKK VOLUNTEERS. 113 

tion. I wish you a successful journey home, and may 
prosperity and happiness always there attend you !" 

Few eyes w^ere dry at the conclusion of this speech, 
and with three cordial cheers for our noble General, 
we made our w^ay in the dust and heat to the depot at 
the city. Loading upon the cars similar to those on 
wiiich we took passage down to the war, we reached 
Baltimore in the night, and after a weary waiting in 
the streets of that blood-redeemed city, changed cars 
for Elmira. From the beginning to the end of this 
journey, we w^ere greeted by the most gratifying 
cheers and w^elcomes from the people as we passed by. 
When within four miles of Elmira, a number of wheels 
and axles of the cars broke and escaped from beneath 
the train, and we came very near being precipitated 
down the banks of the high grade whereon the acci- 
dent occurred. But the same Providence to whom w^e 
attribute the preservation of our lives when often be- 
fore as a regiment conspicuously imperiled, saved us 
again. Three only, by this railroad accident, Avere 
wounded. Half of the command remaining on the 
cars which had kept the track, rode onward to the 
city, and the rest marched on foot. After a tedious 
w^aiting in the barracks there, for payment and dis- 
charge, the time of our disbandment at length arrived. 
On the tenth of June, our existence as a regimental 
organization terminated, and with heart-felt adieus and 
benedictions mutually interchanged among those who 
had been companions in arms during our term of service 
of exceeding efficiency, we separated, each going home 
to enjoy as a citizen again, those rights to life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness, which his valor had aid- 
ed to secure for himself and for mankind. 



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